New Flyover Eases Traffic at Key Spots, but LIC to Samvidhan Square Still Congested

The recently inaugurated 5.4 km double-decker flyover on Kamptee Road has significantly reduced traffic congestion in critical areas of the city. However, not everything is smooth sailing. While locations such as LIC Square, Teka Naka, Indora Chowk, Kadbi Chowk, and Gaddigodam have seen noticeable improvements, the stretch between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square is facing new challenges.

A Significant Improvement at Key Junctions

The opening of this flyover, inaugurated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on October 5, was a much-needed infrastructure development for the bustling city. The aim was to streamline traffic flow and ease bottlenecks in some of the most congested parts of the city.

Traffic Flow Before the Flyover

Before the flyover, navigating Kamptee Road was nothing short of a nightmare, particularly during peak hours or VIP movements. The sheer volume of vehicles led to severe traffic jams, resulting in long wait times at junctions like Teka Naka and Gaddigodam. Local shopkeepers, like Chandu Mandle from Teka Naka, often witnessed frustrated drivers stuck in queues.

Immediate Results After the Flyover Opening

Two days after its inauguration, traffic constables stationed at Automotive Square noted an immediate improvement. Constables Pankaj Padgilwar and Rajendra Nandurkar confirmed that managing traffic had become much easier. “Earlier, managing the heavy flow of vehicles was quite a challenge, especially during VIP movements,” said Padgilwar. With the new flyover, congestion has noticeably reduced at major junctions.

Key Spots Witnessing Smoother Traffic

• LIC Square: Long notorious for traffic snarls, the square has seen much smoother traffic flow.
• Teka Naka: Local shop owners have reported a drastic reduction in traffic congestion.
• Kadbi Chowk & Indora Chowk: These busy intersections are now more navigable.
• Gaddigodam: One of the key benefits of the flyover is the reduction in traffic here.

While the benefits are evident in these areas, the same cannot be said for all stretches of the road.

Congestion Between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square

Unfortunately, despite the improvements, a new bottleneck has emerged between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square. As vehicles descend from the newly constructed Sadar Y-shaped flyover near Kasturchand Park metro station, the flow of traffic becomes chaotic. This poorly designed landing forces vehicles to wait on the flyover, contributing to congestion that spills into LIC Square.

Sadar Flyover and Its Role in Congestion

The Sadar flyover, meant to alleviate traffic from one part of the city, has inadvertently caused more issues in another. As vehicles leave the flyover, they are met with a road network unable to handle the increased traffic load. Kasturchand Park, which should act as a key transit point, instead adds to the problem.

Challenges in Managing LIC Square Traffic

To cope with the rising chaos, traffic police have resorted to manually managing traffic at LIC Square. This ad-hoc solution aims to prevent queues from spilling into the critical Samvidhan Square junction.

Traffic Signal Adjustments at RBI Square

Further efforts to mitigate the situation have been made at RBI Square, where the traffic signal has been adjusted to a two-minute cycle. One minute is now dedicated to clearing vehicles heading towards LIC Square. Even with these adjustments, traffic remains a pressing issue.

Predictions by Road Safety NGO Jan Aakrosh

The road safety NGO Jan Aakrosh had anticipated these problems. In a study conducted before the flyover’s opening, they predicted severe traffic jams would occur between RBI Square and the junction where Kamptee Road meets the Koradi flyover.

A Study Foreseeing Traffic Bottlenecks

The study highlighted that the poor design of the Sadar flyover landing, combined with the re-routing of vehicles through Residency Road, would likely worsen congestion. This prediction, unfortunately, has come to pass. The 40-meter stretch between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square is struggling to handle the additional traffic load.

Poor Planning Worsens the Situation

Traffic flow on this stretch suffers whenever the traffic signal for vehicles heading towards Wardha Road turns red. The convergence of vehicles from multiple routes at Kasturchand Park adds to the confusion, and drivers are now facing longer wait times than ever before.

The Impact of Rerouting on Residency Road

One of the primary culprits is the partial closure of Kamptee Road between RBI Square and LIC Square, which was necessitated by construction issues on the Sadar flyover. This closure has rerouted vehicles through already congested areas, leading to chaos.

Solutions for the Future

While the double-decker flyover has brought much-needed relief to some parts of the city, addressing the new issues between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square is vital for overall success.

Better Traffic Management

Efforts should be made to improve the landing design of the Sadar flyover and to relieve pressure on the stretch between Kasturchand Park and Samvidhan Square. Additional lanes, improved traffic signals, and possibly a secondary flyover may be required.

Public Transportation and Alternative Routes

Investing in public transportation and encouraging the use of alternate routes may also alleviate some of the traffic burden. Relying solely on flyovers will not be enough in the long term.

Enhanced Coordination with Traffic Police

Finally, greater collaboration between city planners and traffic police is essential to ensure that future infrastructure projects are designed with traffic flow in mind.

The new 5.4 km double-decker flyover has proven its worth in easing traffic congestion at several critical junctions along Kamptee Road. However, the poorly planned landing of the Sadar flyover and the surge in traffic between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square have created new problems that need to be urgently addressed. Only with proper planning and a proactive approach can the city avoid turning these gains into a long-term headache.

1. What is the length of the new flyover on Kamptee Road?
The newly opened flyover stretches 5.4 km, offering a double-decker solution to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

2. Why is the stretch between LIC Square and Samvidhan Square still congested?
The congestion in this area is due to the poorly designed landing of the Sadar Y-shaped flyover and the inability of the road network to handle the increased traffic volume.

3. How has the new flyover improved traffic flow in other areas?
Traffic has significantly improved in areas such as LIC Square, Teka Naka, Indora Chowk, Kadbi Chowk, and Gaddigodam, reducing congestion.

4. What measures are being taken to manage traffic at LIC Square?
Traffic police are manually managing traffic at LIC Square, and traffic signals at RBI Square have been adjusted to alleviate congestion.

5. What future solutions could solve the traffic issues in this area?
Potential solutions include redesigning the Sadar flyover landing, improving traffic management at Kasturchand Park, and investing in public transportation options.