No clear left turn directing you right into thick of traffic by fated design?

Time of India

11-07-2025

Bhopal: You're driving down a busy crossing and as you attempt to turn left in your vehicle, the way is blocked.
This is a phenomenon observed at multiple major junctions in New and Old Bhopal and dedicated left turns, which are supposed to ease traffic, are lanes required for safe commute that the city cannot manage at this turning in time.
Left turns at several major intersections continue to remain clogged and congested, primarily due to deficiencies in infrastructure and encroachments.
A recent survey conducted by the traffic police revealed that 42 key left-turn points on city roads require immediate attention to ease traffic congestion. Currently, a large number of commuters face delays at busy junctions simply to take a left turn. In several locations, encroachments have narrowed the roads, while at other points, there is no designated space for left turns at all.
Traffic officials have emphasised that clearing these left turns must be a top priority, as these intersections witness a heavy volume of traffic, especially during peak hours.
The police believe that addressing these issues will significantly improve traffic flow and reduce commuter delays.
Rajesh Shrivastava, a resident of the Arera Colony area, said that the roads connecting Habibganj underbridge to 10-Number Market and 11 Number Stop/Sai Board remain clogged every day during peak hours.
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Traffic volume increased significantly on this road. The main reason for congestion can be attributed to no clear left turns on the crossings in the area. Similarly, the 10-Number Market trisection, Rajiv Gandhi Square, Vande Mataram Square, and other major junctions in the area remain clogged during peak hours due to this problem.
He added that the condition is similar with major junctions on roads in the Shahpura area as well.
These roads connect several residential colonies, and people get stuck in traffic congestion as soon as they step out of their homes.
Another commuter, Shailendra Jain, a resident of the Nishatpura area, said that in the absence of proper left turns, almost all the major junctions on Hamidia Road, including Alpana Trisection, Nadra Bus Stand Square, Bhopal Talkies Square, and Shahjehanabad Square, remain clogged.
Major junctions like Karond Square in Nishatpura suffer from severe traffic congestion due to this problem. In Old City areas, the volume of traffic remains high throughout the day, so commuters face a lot of problems due to these congestions on city roads.
Road expert Dr Rahul Tiwari, assistant professor in the department of architecture and planning at MANIT, explained that a properly cleared left turn allows vehicles to proceed without waiting at red lights, ensuring smoother traffic flow.
However, a common psychological barrier persists—drivers often stop at red signals in a way that blocks the left-turn lane, even when a designated path exists. This issue is largely due to the absence of proper channelisation, ultimately defeating the purpose of having a dedicated left turn.
At many major intersections, left turns have effectively turned into informal pickup and drop-off zones for e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.
These vehicles frequently halt in the turn lanes to board or drop passengers, causing further obstruction—a common sight at some of the city's busiest crossings.
He stressed that merely clearing left turns won't resolve the issue unless there is a behavioural shift among road users, which can only be achieved through strict enforcement of traffic rules. Moreover, expanding junctions without structured channelisation adds to pedestrian hazards, making them vulnerable to accidents.
Addressing the issue, he said, requires not just surface-level fixes but a deeper, more comprehensive approach.
Additional DCP (Traffic) Basant Kaul said that on the initiative taken up by Bhopal MP Alok Sharma in a joint meeting with district administration, police, and construction agencies including BMC, PWD, and others, the issue of left turns was discussed. Traffic police prepared a list of major crossings and junctions where congestion occurs in the absence of clear left turns.
These left turns need to be cleared on a top priority basis to ease traffic movement. This list was shared and discussed in the joint meeting taken by Sharma. The agencies have been directed to resolve the issue at the earliest and they're already working on the issue, officials said.