Traffic woes grip city during peak hours
| Date :15-Jun-2024 |
By Dheeraj Fartode
As Nagpur is grappling with increasing vehicular population and traffic violations, the key junctions have become epicenters of traffic chaos during peak hours. Samvidhan Square to Kriplani T-point, LIC Square to Gandhibagh, Ravi Nagar Square to Wadi, and Dighori to Chhatrapati Square are now known for frustrating traffic snarls. Traffic police have flagged these stretches as critical traffic-jamming zones, particularly during peak hours. From 9.45 am to 11 am and 6.15 pm to 7.30 pm, traffic congestion reaches unprecedented levels and causes major disruptions to daily commuters.
Senior police officials observed the worsening situation of traffic to a major shift in commuting habits of citizens over the past five years. The rising preference for four-wheelers over two-wheelers has contributed to the congestion. One of the most notorious stretches, Samvidhan Square to Morris College T-point, witnesses bumper-to-bumper traffic, especially for vehicles heading north. The bottleneck at Zero Mile T-point results in vehicular traffic extending upto to Morris College T-point. The narrow length between these points results in a domino effect as traffic from Meetha Neem Dargah is also being severely affected. Similarly, Central Avenue becomes a bottleneck post Ram Jhula due to narrower roads. Increased road divider sizes post-metro construction and haphazardly parked vehicles continue to leave little space for the vehicle movement. Traffic flow further slows down due to frequent signal stops as the signals are placed every 500 meters along this busy stretch.
Construction work on the Amravati Road flyover compounds the issue of traffic-jams as it makes the already narrow roads impassable. It may be mentioned here that a speeding tipper claimed the life of a girl near Ravi Nagar last year due to a narrow stretch of the road. The Ring Road in South Nagpur isn’t spared either due to ongoing pipeline laying and dug-up pits creating hurdles for the traffic movement. Additionally, poorly laid paver blocks at Shatabdi Square add sto the woes as it creates obstacles for commuters. Residents from South and South-East Nagpur rely on these routes to visit their offices.
Bridge dismantling near Ambazari overflow point causes traffic chaos
The ongoing dismantling of the bridge over Naag River near Ambazari Dam has unleashed a wave of traffic chaos and left road users stranded and frustrated. Residents in the vicinity find themselves at the mercy of relentless traffic jams during the peak hours of morning and evening. The key intersections such as LAD Square, Mate Square, Dharampeth, Shraddhanand Peth, Shankar Nagar, Bajaj Nagar Square, and Subhash Nagar Square are emerged as traffic jamming points.
City traffic police have confirmed the closure of traffic movement from Hingna to Sitabuldi via Ambazari T-point and announced alternative routes for commuters. Options include navigating through Gajanan Mandir T-point to Mate Square, Shraddhanand Peth Square, Abhyankar Nagar Square, and LAD Square. Alternatively, routes via Hingna T-point to Wadi T-point through University Campus Square to Ravi Nagar Square have been suggested. For those traveling from Hingna to Sitabuldi, routes via Subhash Nagar T-point to Mate Square, Laxmi Nagar Square to Bajaj Nagar Square, or Ambazari T-point through Ambazari Garden to University Campus Square to Wadi T-point have been marked.
The routes from Sitabuldi to Hingna via LAD Square, Abhyankar Nagar Square, Mate Square, and Subhash Nagar Square, or through Shankar Nagar Square, Bajaj Nagar Square, Laxmi Nagar Square, Mate Square, and IT Park have been advised. Despite efforts by road users to adhere to traffic directives, they encounter additional challenges posed by poorly constructed road patches and construction materials strewn along the route. Frustrated residents of West Nagpur have demanded the proper deployment of police personnel to regulate traffic flow especially during peak hours.