Munje square in Sitabuldi is not a traffic paradise at best of times. With narrow roads bringing in large number of vehicles from all directions, it is usually congested. These days, it is much worse. The reason is that traffic signal at this busy junction is not working since last eight months. This has jeopardized the safety of motorists passing through.
Munje square is one of the major junctions in South Nagpur with two major banks and many shops situated just there. Almost round the clock, the junction witnesses heavy traffic. "Due to non-functioning signal, accidents and traffic jams have become a regular feature," pointed out Vijay Kapse, a resident of Dhantoli.
A motorist Rajesh Phale alleged that nowadays driving through this junction has turned out to be a nightmare. Pedestrians are also at risk. As the signals do not work, they never know when to cross the road safely.
Motorists also blamed traffic cops for ignoring major signals that are defunct. A motorist, requesting anonymity, said that at least a dozen cops and traffic wardens can be seen deployed at Variety Square, close to Munje square. For some reason, not a single cop is deployed at Munje square to regulate traffic. At present, autorickshaws can be seen parked on middle of the road.
Non-functioning of traffic signals are a headache for drivers as well as cops at least 20 other squares too. "Due to non-functional signals, traffic cops are forced to remain on the road for as long as six hours to regulate traffic manually," a senior cop said.
He also pointed out poor synchronization of traffic signals on almost every important road including Wardha, Central Avenue, West High Court, North Ambazari and Amravati that disrupted the smooth movement of vehicles. Besides, digging up of many roads by various agencies also added to the woes, he added.
He said the issue, including that at Munje square, had been taken up with NMC's traffic engineering department and the private firm that maintained the signals. "Instructions have been given to rectify the traffic signals at the earliest," he said.
NMC's traffic engineer Nasir Khan admitted that many signals at junctions across the city were faulty. He said that this year the department had proposed to replace 63 traffic signals including one at Munje square, Dharampeth Y-point, Akashwani Square and Vidhan Bhavan square with LED ones.
Munje square is one of the major junctions in South Nagpur with two major banks and many shops situated just there. Almost round the clock, the junction witnesses heavy traffic. "Due to non-functioning signal, accidents and traffic jams have become a regular feature," pointed out Vijay Kapse, a resident of Dhantoli.
A motorist Rajesh Phale alleged that nowadays driving through this junction has turned out to be a nightmare. Pedestrians are also at risk. As the signals do not work, they never know when to cross the road safely.
Motorists also blamed traffic cops for ignoring major signals that are defunct. A motorist, requesting anonymity, said that at least a dozen cops and traffic wardens can be seen deployed at Variety Square, close to Munje square. For some reason, not a single cop is deployed at Munje square to regulate traffic. At present, autorickshaws can be seen parked on middle of the road.
Non-functioning of traffic signals are a headache for drivers as well as cops at least 20 other squares too. "Due to non-functional signals, traffic cops are forced to remain on the road for as long as six hours to regulate traffic manually," a senior cop said.
He also pointed out poor synchronization of traffic signals on almost every important road including Wardha, Central Avenue, West High Court, North Ambazari and Amravati that disrupted the smooth movement of vehicles. Besides, digging up of many roads by various agencies also added to the woes, he added.
He said the issue, including that at Munje square, had been taken up with NMC's traffic engineering department and the private firm that maintained the signals. "Instructions have been given to rectify the traffic signals at the earliest," he said.
NMC's traffic engineer Nasir Khan admitted that many signals at junctions across the city were faulty. He said that this year the department had proposed to replace 63 traffic signals including one at Munje square, Dharampeth Y-point, Akashwani Square and Vidhan Bhavan square with LED ones.
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