Gridlock for residents of Mohan Nagar

Staff Reporter

Residents of Mohan Nagar are facing mounting frustration due to growing problem of traffic congestion on the internal roads. The situation is attributed to a combination of unmanaged traffic flow, multiple development works being carried out on Kingsway, and inadequate policing measures. Citizens commuting from East to West Nagpur and vice-versa are using the by-lanes of Mohan Nagar to reach their destinations. However, residents of Mohan Nagar complain that the small lanes are not capable of handling the heavy flow of traffic due to narrow width of roads and this creates a gridlock. The situation escalates during afternoon hours, as auto rickshaws line-up to pick-up school children from the area. Adv Lynette Santiago, a resident of Mohan Nagar said, “All the roads are blocked and to make matters worse air and noise pollution have made our lives hell. The situation is disturbing especially for those families with small kids and senior citizens.”

The continuous honking have killed the serenity of our area. Also, we cannot even take our four-wheeler out of our homes. If there is some medical emergency, who would be held responsible for the situation? Interestingly, an old age home is located in Mohan Nagar.” While multiple development words are carried across the length and breadth of city, its internal road network, is now struggling to cope with the ever-increasing number of vehicles. Every commuter tries to find his way out through tiny lanes only to get caught in a jam. Citizens, attribute the jams to lack of proper traffic management and multiple works carried at the same time. While one work is still in progress and incomplete, another work is initiated. This has led to a situation where narrow lanes are perpetually choked with bumper-to-bumper traffic, especially during peak hours.

Basant Shukla, another resident of Mohan Nagar stated, “The road leading to DRM office from LIC Square is dug-up for work. The contractor is given a 40 days time period to complete the work. But it is ridiculous on part of the authorities as they have not considered the right time to implement the works. There are around four big schools located in and around Mohan Nagar. While the exams are in progress, students and their parents are suffering multiple problems. How will the students reach their exam center at right time? There are also major banks located in the area. Senior citizens have to suffer wrath of the development works. Police men instead of regulating the traffic are just witnessing the ordeal sitting in groups.”

The present situation at Mohan Nagar, underlines the hardship and frustration of the citizens that is also affected their quality of life. A similar situation was created at Ramdaspeth a few months back as due to under construction bridge at Buty Hall over Naag River and another at Panchasheel Square had put a strain on the internal roads. But with no lessons learnt, the authorities are creating nightmare situation for citizens. The citizens are demanding a comprehensive traffic management and development works strategy for their well being. To make matters worse even the work on Station Road form Jaistambh Square to Manas Square is not complete yet. The work is going on at snail pace and with multiple agencies at work, there seems to apparent lack of co-ordination leaving citizens frustrated. And the stretch is busy owing to location of railway station that further leads to chaos.