Athwagate traffic island: New design may ease traffic flow

SURAT : The makeover of Athwagate traffic island will begin in the city next week. Athwagate traffic island spread over 771.854 square metre area is located on one of the most congested crossroads. A team of Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), which is working on makeover of 70 junctions in the city, has completed design work for 23 of them. Athwagate traffic island’s area will be reduced by 20% as per its suggestion to ease movement of traffic around it.

Municipal commissioner M Thennarasan said, “We have received new design for Athwagate traffic island from SVNIT. We will soon hold discussions with police, people and other stakeholders. The new junction would be more pedestrian friendly.”

Professor Gaurang Joshi, transportation expert, SVNIT, said, “The new design of Athwagate junction is in sync with old RTO intersection and takes care of pedestrians too, who would get a raised crosswalk now.”

Under the new design, the aeroplane circle will also be reduced for vehicles coming from Bahumali building side. At present, traffic coming from court and Sardar Bridge sides has to take a 200 metre round.

“At present, traffic coming from Ring Road has to stop twice. If we don’t stop the traffic, then safety issues would crop up,” a civic officer said.

About 16,784 vehicles per hour pass through this junction. However, with cable-stayed bridge having become operational now, the traffic density has reduced by about 5,000 vehicles per hour. Experts say if Athwagate traffic island’s area is reduced by 20 per cent, traffic movement will improve to a great extent.