Traffic conditions in Ranchi may have bagged attention of officiating Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty who suggested a number of measures to be initiated from July 20 but the problem appears too complex and calls for paradigm shift in city’s landscape to address the problems forever.
The capital is notorious for congestions at Kanta Toli Chowk, entry point to the city, lalpur Chowk, Albert Ekka Chowk, Ratu Road and Piska More besides jams in narrow lanes in the city.
During Saturday’s inspection of city’s traffic the officiating CS had suggested for constructing left-to-left lane to allow corridor to vehicles going to the left of the signal; however the most infamous square in the city already has such a corridor for allowing vehicles coming from Siromtoli Chowk to go towards Dangrtoli Chowk.
But the left to left lane is used as a stop by autorickshaws and even government run city buses. Interestingly, the left-to-left lane appears to have come into existence because of a masthead opposite to the traffic post at the square resulting in less space for vehicles especially large vehicles thus slowing the pace of traffic and causing jams.
“I have suggested a 12ft wide left-to-left lane but let’s see what engineer says. I have suggested that if possible reduce the width but do provide a corridor,” maintained Traffic SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh. As per CS’s instruction left-to-left corridor is likely to be earmarked at all prominent squares besides Karamtoli Chowk and Hotlips Chowk. About 100-metre stretch has been suggested to dedicate to left-to-left corridor on both sides of a square.
The acting CS was accompanied by Executive Engineer of Road Construction Chandraprakash Singh and other engineers who took measurements of squares to draft a plan for widening of squares and provide corridors to help vehicles move to the left of the signal. A draft a plan will be prepared after due consultations with the traffic department and is likely to be ready in a week’s time, said an official of the Road Construction department. The CS’s suggestion is modeled on the similar suggestions made by the Traffic SP to ensure smooth and congestion free roads. A monitoring committee is likely to be constituted to implement infrastructure and other issues related to traffic in the city.
“We cannot ensure smooth traffic by wielding batons. It is necessary to concentrate on infrastructure and improve it for a better and orderly traffic,” pointed out Singh. Arbitrary stoppages of autorickshaws, commercial places at corners and above all people standing at the corners of a square reduces space at lalpur Chowk. Another important junction has been under encroachment of autorickshaws on all roads attached to the Chowk under the nose of traffic police has compounded the problem of traffic jam manifold at lalpur.
Making stoppages for autorickshaws is also a part of the work that the CS has reportedly ordered to begin from July 20. However, the idea of one-way road in city’s business hub, Uppar Bazaar, has not yielded desired result. Failure to address the irritating jams in the narrow lanes of Uppar Bazaar discouraged traffic officials to pull back from the area. Now traffic has been opened for both ways.
“One-way can only succeed if roads in these areas are widened,” maintained Singh. Among other suggestions to address traffic jams include widening roads, removing TOPs at some locations,
replacing HEC gate with a separate lane and earmarking lane for rickshaw and carts in Main Road. The comprehensive plan however misses on constructing footpath for pedestrians who are also a part of the problem at almost every square and important stretches. Albert Ekka Chowk stands occupied from all sides by roadside vendors and stalls. The square is wide in area but the space around it too less and presence of traffic police to regulate traffic even lesser.