THE iron poles installed at Ajni Railway Overbridge (RoB) to prevent entry of heavy vehicles are the prime cause of traffic snarls resulting in extension of the time taken by a vehicle to pass from the dilapidated British-era RoB. Apart from this, for the already overstretched City Police machinery, this new headache is an unnecessary diversion from its prime task of policing. Unnecessary manpower needs to be deployed to regulate the traffic to and fro at Ajni RoB that, too, without any success. Instead of removing these poles, cops have now put up barricades to divert the entire traffic coming from South Nagpur towards Chunabhatti. After mulling over all options, Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar and his deputies thought of segregating the movement of vehicles, at least on one side, to avoid criss-cross movement that leads to jams at the junction ahead of Ajni RoB on Congress Nagar side.

 

After reviewing the chaotic situation at Ajni RoB, the Commissioner of Police ordered putting up barricades. However, the same has only shifted the jam ahead to a point in front of the office of Irrigation Department from where now one has to take a U-turn and again come on road leading towards Congress Nagar. The drivers have the option to take a left turn for moving on towards Kriplani Square through Jail Road or moving straight towards Congress Nagar Square. However, the situation has not improved in real sense as traffic snarls are now shifted from Ajni RoB to a point near the office of Irrigation Department leaving citizens frustrated.

 

The idea seems quite fine on paper but the key to streamlining the vehicular movement is urgent removal of vertical poles on either side of RoB. This would speed-up movement of vehicles on the RoB as the number during the peak time needs an adequate path to handle the traffic. Unless the poles are removed the traffic flow cannot be smoothened and along with the police needs to put in place diversion to avoid criss-cross movement of vehicular flow. For example the straight movement from Chunabhatti to Dhantoli also needs to be regulated and directed to Jail Road and from there a Uturn from the gap in the median for those wishing to move towards Congress Nagar and Dhantoli area. Similarly, the open space below the metro corridor from Kriplani Square to Ajni railway station should be utilised by NMC to lay another road that can ease the congestion and confusion at Ajni RoB Square, feels the experts.

 

Till overhead barriers were in place, the traffic moved freely and smoothly without any chaos at Ajni RoB. However, the short sighted approach of city planners in NMC has resulted in present hotchpotch conditions at Ajni and citizens are paying the price. Due to narrow space owing to vertical poles, drivers of four wheelers have to be cautious and this slows down has a spiralling effect along the line bringing entire traffic to standstill. For the benefit of citizens and to ensure hassle free movement through Ajni RoB, the vertical poles need to be put up near the turning at Kamble Square and on the other side near Chunabhatti. The rearrangement of barriers can safely arrest movement of heavy vehicles and put an end