Riders ‘grid-locked’ between road widening & Metro works in Bhopal

Bhopal: Residents and motorists are facing traffic congestion that at times turn into nightmarish jams due to the ongoing road widening on Ayodhya Bypass and Metro construction works in Piplani.People were stuck in a three-and-a-half-hour traffic jam on Ayodhya Bypass Road on Monday and not only did it leave commuters stranded but it also caused several people to miss their flights and appointments.Traffic snarls have become a regular feature on Ayodhya Bypass Road and along the Prabhat Square-Piplani stretch, where Metro construction is underway. Both corridors connect BHEL townships, new Bhopal localities and Raja Bhoj Airport, with commuters alleging poor planning and inadequate traffic management by the agencies involved.Traffic came to a near standstill on Monday evening after a road construction vehicle broke down near Minal Residency Gate No. 5, leading to a five-km-long jam from Piplani to Bhanpur.“This was absolute chaos and mismanagement. Vehicles remained stranded for hours. My family and many others missed their flights. There was no traffic regulation and vehicles started entering the wrong side, further worsening the situation,” said a commuter caught in the gridlock.

The Ayodhya Bypass widening project has narrowed several stretches due to earthwork and construction activity. At many locations, one side of the carriageway has been shut completely, forcing traffic moving in opposite directions to share a single lane.Residents said the bottlenecks have been causing severe congestion for more than a month, particularly during evening peak hours. Massive jams are frequently witnessed around Ayodhya Nagar Square.Metro work between Prabhat Square and Ratnagiri in Piplani has created another choke point. The congestion further extends till Patel Nagar. Near Piplani petrol pump, both lanes have been closed and traffic diverted through narrow service roads. The situation has worsened with the onset of monsoon.Commuters questioned why alternative routes were not planned before beginning such major infrastructure works.“If road work is so important, why isn’t the stretch closed and alternative routes notified? This road connects the airport, BHEL satellite townships and new Bhopal. How can such a crucial route be allowed to remain paralysed?” said another resident.People also raised concerns over the movement of heavy vehicles and buses through the under-construction stretches during peak hours. Motorists alleged that traffic personnel were either absent or unable to regulate traffic effectively at critical junctions.“If a major infrastructure project is being executed, traffic arrangements should be planned first,” said a commuter.Residents have demanded restrictions on heavy vehicles during peak hours, deployment of additional traffic personnel and proper signages and public advisories on alternate routes till the projects are completed.