Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has taken up six squares in Nagpur for redevelopment to ensure smooth flow of traffic and avoid jams during the peak hour movement. The job involves improving the geometry at these squares so as to ensure that vehicles move easily, said Ravindra Bundhade, Executive Engineer, Traffic, NMC.
For the same, the slope and other aspects related to traffic movement at the squares are being reworked by the civic body. The six squares that are taken-up in the first phase are Shraddhanandpeth Square, Gangabai Ghat Square, Wardhaman Nagar Square, Gandhi Statue Square, Sevasadan Square and Japanese Garden Square.
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Friday 22 Nov. 2024
At some of the squares, like the Shraddhanandpeth, the topography of the existing road is such that criss-cross movement is somewhat difficult. So as per the suggestion, the road level on the stretch at the square would need to be corrected as there is extreme slope while taking the left turn from Mate Square for moving towards Bajaj Nagar. The stretch of East High Court Road, that starts from Kriplani Turning and ends at Subhash Nagar T-point near Ambazari overflow, is slightly above the other two roads.
One of the aspects that would be closely looked into while redesigning the square is the space available for left turn, said Bundhade, and if needed they would be widened. This would help in avoiding unnecessary detention of vehicles at the traffic signals.
Similarly, at the Japanese Garden Square, the trajectory of the road coming from Raj Bhavan towards the High Court is not straight and hence the vehicular movement is not as fast as it must be at the said traffic island. The island is quite wide and for engineers the task is to provide a disciplined movement for which measures would be implemented.
Another point about Japanese Garden Square, is that during peak hours there is congestion due to unequal height of the roads coming from the four directions. The primary aspect in course correction has taken into account all aspects relating to road usage on part of citizens. As such the focus is also on ensuring proper access to pedestrians, in fact their movement is at the centre while redesigning these squares. So there would be wide footpaths to ensure that walkers do not stray down on the carriageway as is the case at most of the congested roads.
The mixture of pedestrians and other slow moving vehicles slows the traffic movement and in the end causes endless trouble to drivers. Also the walkways at the squares would be properly indicated through zebra crossings so that people use those while crossing over to the other side, the officer said. The alignment of roads converging at the square should be such that anyone coming from any direction has direct line of sight and any blockades would be removed.
Many of the squares have multiple utility poles, and their assessment would be taken and if not required they would be removed. Already the traffic signal poles have got a new look, wherein they are visible from a distance. Wide spaces would be aligned to ensure just flow of traffic and avoid unnecessary overtakes that lead to jams at times.
