Grave risks on the Great Nag Road
| Date :12-Feb-2020 |
The non-functional street lights, non-deployment of traffic police and impatient commuters there create chaos at Jagnade square almost all the time. (Pic by Satish Raut)
By Rahul Dixit :
A NATION’S temperament is judged at a traffic signal, or rather it is supposed to be the case. How will Nagpur fare in this test of temperament is anybody’s guess. It is one Mettle Test that most of the road-users would fail with ‘three flying colours’ on the signal poles. And, they do it with a bluster, treading in their own world, caring a damn about dangers, possible having a firm belief in rebirth. Squares after squares, roads after roads of the city tell the tale of sheer impunity and disdain towards rules and own life. Despite their varied sizes and complexions, almost every road in Nagpur resembles the same when carrying flocks of vehicles whose will and directions cannot be judged even by the most intelligent human mind. The Great Nag Road stretch between Baidyanath Square and Jagnade Square is no exception to the rule. Rather a misrule.
It has a similar story like other junctions in the city, full of recklessness and inexplicable contempt towards traffic sense. The road, joining the Eastern and Western parts of the city, carries a heavy traffic load and has all the apparatus needed to control it. Yet, it is among the most risky path due to the rush to race ahead. State Transport buses entering from Bhandara are regular on the route along with other heavy vehicles. They occupy a large chunk of the road but two-wheelers as well as four-wheeler drivers perpetually find the left side as the best side to overtake. In the process they not only put their lives at stake but also create a situation that throws normalcy out of the gear.
Daily scene at Untkhana square sums up the chaos. Roads from five sides congregate at the square and people, without fail, try to take advantage of green signals meant for parallel road-users. It results in a regular jam right at the middle of the square and poses a constant threat to little kids going to multiple schools in the area. This happens despite the presence of police constables at various points. Controlling traffic during the morning and evening hours is a stressful exercise for the cops as some or other Smart Alec always finds a way to zig-zag through the oncoming traffic. Worst-hit is the Juni Shukrawari square which is a small intersection with heavy traffic. After a wait of long years, a signal is in place but its utility is as important as that of the letter ‘P’ in Pneumonia.
People simply refuse to look at it and march on in their urgent quest to cross the intersection. At Jagnade Square, the problem of uneven landing creates a snarl right at the square. Traffic turning towards Reshimbag from Gangabai Ghat Square is halted in the tracks due to the potholes on the approach landing and vehicles parked by the roadside. Soon a session of honking begins when signal turns green towards KDK Engineering College. The square is mostly used by all kinds of heavy vehicles entering the market area on Central Avenue. ST buses exiting the city also make an unscheduled stop right next to the square forming another road block. A few meters later, at Gangabai Ghat intersection there is a free for all. No one is bound by the three colours on the poles taking their turn to show the right way to people. They keep blinking and the traffic moves on to mingle with each other on any side of the road. Right or wrong does not matter at all. After all, there is test to pass with flying colours!
