Wrong right turn near Ajni Chowk causing traffic chaos on Wardha Road

Nagpur: Motorists are having a harrowing time while using the stretch from Ajni Chowk to NKY Tower on Wardha Road. Traffic moving in five directions — Ajni FCI Godown Road, Chhatrapati Square, Rahate Colony T-Point, RPTS Road and Khamla Road — converges at the intersection near Ajni Chowk and in front of NKY Tower, causing chaos on the busy Wardha road in absence of any monitoring.
A couple of years ago, the stretch was closed for vehicular movement due to construction work of Ajni Chowk Metro station.For smooth vehicular movement, the road divider in front of NKY Tower was removed to divert traffic heading to RPTS and Khamla from Ajni FCI Godown Road, and for vehicles coming from Rahate Colony and going toward Chhatrapati Square and beyond.
Recently, the stretch was reopened for traffic after completion of Ajni Chowk Metro station work but the road divider in front of NKY Tower was not restored.
According to local shopkeepers, at least 70% of vehicles coming from Ajni FCI Godown Road take a right turn at the intersection in front of NKY Tower to go toward Khamla or RPTS Road. It piles up traffic on either side of Wardha road — toward Chhatrapati Square and Rahate Colony T-Point.
Earlier, vehicles coming from Ajni FCI Godown Road used to take a left turn before Sai Mandir Square on Wardha Road to reach Khamla or RPTS Road. But due to landing of double decker flyover near Ajni Chowk Metro station, the left turn was closed.
Shopkeepers also said vehicles are coming from Wardha Road at a greater speed since the opening of double decker flyover.
Team TOI which was at the intersection in front of NKY Tower for an hour on Friday witnessed chaos and continuous honking. “It has become an accident-prone spot,” said Sachin Dhawde, a medical shop owner at Ajni Chowk.
Adding to the confusion is haphazard parking of four-wheelers, especially in front of commercial buildings on the patch between Ajni Chowk and the Metro station. Vehicles are parked even on the footpath, especially in front of commercial complexes including NKY Tower, Saraswat Bank etc, compelling pedestrians to use the road.
Abrupt halts by autorickshaws on the stretch is adding to the mess.
ACP (traffic) Ajay Malviya, also in-charge of Sitabuldi traffic zone, visited the spot with TOI. After witnessing the chaos, he admitted that closing the intersection was the only solution.
“On Saturday, the Sitabuldi traffic zone closed the divider with barricades. Next week, we will ask MahaMetro to close the intersection,” said Malviya.
He also said motorists will be diverted from different routes.

* Traffic from five directions converges at the road cut in front of NKY Tower near Ajni Chowk
* As vehicles coming from Ajni FCI Godown Road and Rahate Colony T-Point take right turn here to move toward RPTS Road and Khamla, the traffic on either side of Wardha road is stalled
* Traffic from RPTS Road, Khamla and many motorists from Wardha Road take a right turn at Ajni Chowk to reach Chhatrapati Square, thus adding to the traffic chaos

* Road cut in front of NKY Tower to be closed
* Motorists coming from Ajni FCI Godown Road will have to take right turn at Sai Mandir Square for going toward Khamla or RPTS Road
* Motorists coming from RPTS Road toward Wardha Road will have to either take U-turn at Ajni Chowk and move toward Chhatrapati Square or take right turn from Ajni sub-station on Khamla Road and then use Sai Mandir Road