Traffic plan lists steps to ease congestion

Nagpur: Maharashtra government on Monday filed an affidavit in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court listing various steps taken to ease traffic congestion and parking problems on city roads. It was filed on behalf of HC appointed panel led by state transport secretary Ashish Kumar Singh formed to suggest effective measures to curb problems on short and long term basis.
A division bench of Justices Ravi Deshpande and Vinay Joshi adjourned the hearing by two weeks when petitioners’ counsel Shreerang Bhandarkar sought time to file reply. The affidavit was filed in response to a bunch of petitions filed by social workers accusing different agencies of failure to perform their duties of creating proper and adequate traffic and parking infrastructure. The petitions quoted a master plan prepared by L&T Ramboll in which city’s transportation needs in future were studied.
The HC panel, also having divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar, transport commissioner Shekhar Channe and officials from MahaMetro, MSRTC, collectorate, NIT, NMC and traffic police as members, informed that additional land taken from Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) was handed over to NMC at Mor Bhavan in Sitabuldi for erecting facilities for operations of city bus service. After likely completion of its work by December this year, parking problems on busy stretch between Jhansi Rani and Variety square would be reduced. Traffic on roads would reduce significantly once Nagpur Metro becomes fully operational. Metro stations have allocated parking space for 3,238 cycles, 3,437 two-wheelers and 1,940 cars, it added.
About unsynchronized traffic signals, the panel asked NMC to prepare DPR for improving signalling system including synchronization. Regarding damaged footpaths and encroachments over them, NMC commissioner and state town planning department were directed to repair them immediately and also frame a comprehensive policy on regular maintenance and repairs with the use of technology within three months. Town Planning Department was told to direct NMC to allocate separate funds for the purpose in annual budget.
On pothole ridden and damaged roads that led to many accidents, particularly in monsoon, it was informed NMC chief had directed his staff to take up repairs on war-footing. The panel asked NIT director and PWD head to give similar instructions to their respective officials for roads under their jurisdiction. The authorities were further told to fix the rules for barricading roads and use plastic barricades.
After it was pointed out that strength of traffic police in the city was at a level sanctioned 15 years back, the panel instructed DCP (Traffic) to use information technology for increasing their efficiency. DCP was also told to take review of existing force and to explore whether IT could help bridge the gap.
On HC’s instructions to come out with concrete solution for all traffic and parking woes expeditiously, the panel informed it had issued necessary instructions to all concerned authorities and told them to complete the task as early as possible.
Studies carried out by various stakeholders for improving mobility in city:
Stakeholder ------------------Project ------------------------------ Year ------------------ Status
NIT ----------------------------- Comprehensive Mobility Plan ------ 2013 ----------- Completed
NIT ----------------------------- Transit Oriented Development ------ 2014 ----------- Completed
NMC ----------------------------- Metro DPR Phase-I ------ 2014 ----------- Completed
NMC ----------------------------- City Development Plan ------ 2015 ----------- Completed
NMC ----------------------------- Nagpur Parking Policy ------ 2016 ----------- Completed
MahaMetro + NMC ------------------- Public Transport & NMT Master Plan ------ 2017 ----------- Completed
MahaMetro --------- Detailed Design Consultancy for Multimodal Integration ------ 2017 ----------- Completed
MahaMetro ------------------- Updation of Comprehensive Mobility Plan ------ 2017 ----------- Completed
MahaMetro ------------------- Metro DPR Phase-II ------ 2018 ----------- Completed