The 5.8 km stretch from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, infamous for congestions and never ending traffic jams will soon be a signal free road as the Delhi Traffic Police is implementing the 'U-turn' scheme to decongest all the four armed intersections as well as T-point intersections on the erstwhile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
The Public Works Department (PWD), the implementing agency of the project has already closed the three main crossings falling on this stretch.
Senior officials of the Delhi Traffic Police said
witnessing heavy congestion and complaints from the people, the traffic police decided to implement the plan with the help of Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).
About 12 U-turns will be opened at five junctions/T-Points including two U-turns for turning of Heavy Motor Vehicles at Chirag Delhi intersections i.e. Krishi Vihar Triveni Resident Welfare Association (RWA) and Sheikh Sarai Intersection.
However, on Chirag Dilli intersection and Sheikh Sarai T -Junction, there will be two separate U-turns for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs). As per the officials, this sort of segregated U-turn provision is specifically suggested considering the turning volume at the above two intersections is more than 30 % with the share of bus traffic itself is quite substantial.
"In the case of LMVs, it shall be at a minimum distance of 100 m away from the intersection which need to be fortified with 4 m height barrier. In the case of HMVs, U-Turn provision can be provided at suitable location (location identified on the ground by the team and noted by Junior engineer, PWD) which is located about 300 to 400 m away from Chirag Delhi intersection and Sheikh Sarai T - Junction. Such segregation is expected to help in achieving safe negotiating space for U-Turning traffic," said the officials.
"After closing these crossings on the BRT corridor, we witnessed a smooth movement of traffic on the following stretch. Hence, we have decided to close two more cuts and make it a signal free corridor from Moolchand to end the chaotic situation, long queues and slow traffic movement on the stretch," said an official.
"Further, offset of around 50m along the direction of vehicular movement will be provided at U-Turns for ensuring adequate turning radius and avoid collisions of straight moving and turning traffic. The main aim behind the initiative is to save time and end the slow movement of traffic. The commuters will be given U-Turn opportunity at following intersections but only with a speed Limit Sign of 25 Kmph," said S Velmurugan, Senior Principal Scientist of CRRI.
Further, to avoid confusion among the commuters, proper road safety measures will be provided such as cautionary signages, pasting of direction indicating retro reflective tapes on each of the New Jersey Barriers (NJB), speed calming measures in the form of three sets of Transverse Bar Marking (TBM) will be erected.
Besides, sign boards will be installed indicating speed limit sign of 25 Kmph at 250m interval till the U-turning location coupled with U-turn Cautionary Sign at least 100 m before the provision as well as U-turn provision facility information sign posted at 10 m before the U-turn Provision, said the officials.
