Imagine rushing through the city, thinking a flyover would be the fastest, safest route, only to witness speeding vehicles, abrupt lane changes, and a complete disregard for traffic rules. These split-second decisions can lead to accidents, pile-ups, and even fatalities, making these elevated roads less of a solution and more of a risk. City’s Sadar flyover, Shahid Gowari flyover, and the double-decker flyover on Wardha Road, intended to ease traffic congestion, are fast becoming spots for accidents and near misses. The daily commute across these flyovers has turned into a nerve-wracking ordeal for city commuters.

 

Lane jumping, a common sight, creates unpredictable hazards. Overtaking, often attempted in blind spots, exacerbates the risk of collisions, with drivers overspeeding and treating the flyovers as impromptu race tracks. Furthermore, the existing width of the Gowari and Sadar flyover falls short of the standards required for a central divider. When asked whether smaller alternatives could be used as dividers instead to help separate opposing lanes and enforce lane discipline, Archit Chandak, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), explained, “Earlier, small pole-like dividers were placed on some flyovers. However, there were multiple instances where vehicles crashed into them, causing both the dividers and parts of the vehicles to break. While they acted as a deterrent to some extent, they also became a problem due to people’s overtaking habits and vehicles losing balance and hitting them.”

 

Regular commuters of the Sadar flyover, Shahid Gowari flyover, and the double-decker flyover on Wardha Road have observed that during nighttime, when traffic is lighter compared to daytime, many four-wheelers, in an attempt to overtake, often cross into the opposite lane due to the absence of dividers, creating a risk of collisions with oncoming traffic. Chandak shared that just like the automated speed detection systems implemented in cities like Mumbai to curb overspeeding, the Nagpur Traffic Department is also planning to install speed monitoring systems at various locations across the city, especially on flyovers. Chandak also mentioned that the ongoing implementation of the High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) system across Maharashtra will be a big help in identifying traffic violators.