Kingsway Fly-over New epicentre of traffic chaos

 

 

 

Mismanaged road construction work and traffic diversions orchestrated by the city traffic police officers have sparked widespread chaos, leaving commuters frustrated and resorting to violating traffic rules at will. One glaring example of this pandemonium is evident at Jaistambh Square, where the simultaneous construction of multiple roads has left commuters with little space to navigate and reach their destinations seamlessly. The epicenter of the chaos lies at the ongoing cement road construction site stretching from the Shri Mohini Complex to Jaistambh Square, right across from the DRM office. On one side, the road remains open for traffic, which leads to a sea of commuters, while the road from Ganesh Tekdi towards Jaistambh Square is closed.

 

This closure compels vehicles from that side to navigate on the wrong side from the Railway Station to Jaistambh Square, eventually necessitating a U-turn on the Ram Jhula flyover. A citizen of the area expressed his frustration, saying, “The situation at Jaistambh Square is unbearable. The authorities seem to have embarked on a construction spree without considering the inconvenience caused to the public. I had no choice but to drive on the wrong side just to get through the mess.” Another frustrated commuter, while voicing his concerns, said, “It’s unbelievable that the authorities are allowing such construction in a high-traffic junction.

 

The traffic police should have thought twice before permitting the construction of multiple roads simultaneously. This is a blatant disregard of common sense and traffic rules.” The chaotic scenes continue as traffic from Jaistambh Square to Shri Mohini Complex moves in both directions on just one side of the road. After passing through Jaistambh Square, vehicles take a U-turn on the flyover, further exacerbating the violation of traffic norms. The situation raises questions about the planning and foresight of the authorities involved in the road construction. Are they carrying out these projects without applying due consideration to the existing traffic conditions and the inconvenience caused to the public? A college student commented, “The construction work is causing mayhem not just for commuters but also for visitors to the Railway Station. The heavy traffic chaos is making it increasingly difficult for people to reach their destination on time.” In addition to the chaos at Jaistambh Square, the Y-flyover starting from Ram Jhula-I (near Jaistambh Square) has become a focal point of disruption.

 

Designed with two lanes up to Kingsway Hospital, the flyover branches into two arms leading to LIC Square and RBI Square. However, due to ongoing construction work, commuters are being compelled to take a U-turn just before the flyover which creates massive traffic disruptions. The construction of both Ram Jhula-I and II has transformed Jaistambh Square into a major bottleneck, causing ripple effects on the road stretch. The commuters are grappling with the consequences of these unplanned road constructions and demanding thoughtful urban planning.