Field report on the traffic congestion at Six-Mile flyover [Guwahati]

Field report on the traffic congestion at Six-Mile flyover [Guwahati]

Kristi Flora Karki

Introduction: On 19^th of July, I visited to my assigned site, Six-Mile flyover [Guwahati] with an aim to collect necessary information about the traffic congestion experienced there. I observed the flow of vehicular traffic and congestion problem from all sides.

I also interviewed some of the nearby shopkeepers and local vendors to know about their opinions on the current traffic congestion problem and the possible reasons behind it. I also clicked some photographs of the site depicting the traffic congestions experienced both during day and night times.

Objective: The main objective of this field survey is to have a detailed understanding of the traffic congestion at Six -Mile junction, understanding the problems being faced by the people on a daily basis, problems created by footpath vendors etc.

Methodology: Conducted physical survey of the routes, observed traffic congestion at different points and at different times, clicked photographs of routes, traffic congestions, interacted with roadside vendors and shop keepers including pharmacy, bakery shops, departmental shops etc.

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Field Observation: Formation of the Six -Mile traffic junction is a critical one. It connects five major roads viz Panjabari road, VIP road, Jayanagar road and GS road (connecting Khanapara and Dispur). These five roads joining the junction are unevenly merged at different locations creating two major road crossings. One such crossing is at Panjabari-VIP road – GS road (leading to Panjabari) under flyover.

These three routes meet /merge under the extended arm of Six Mile flyover towards Panjabari, thus forming a giant traffic point. Another major traffic merger / crossing point is under Six Mile flyover where Jayanagar road touches / merges with GS Road.

Besides, there are two more small merger points, under the Six Mile flyover viz. traffic coming from Khanapara side and moving towards VIP road /Panjabari take turn towards VIP road/Panjabari under the flyover opposite to the GNRC hospital gate. This traffic merges near the Axis Bank (where a traffic signal is also installed), with the traffic coming from Dispur side.

Another, small traffic merging point forms at the turning point, ahead of Baruah’s sweets shop (south side of Panjabari road). Here vehicles coming from Panjabari side towards Khanapara/ Jayanagar / Dispur are merged with the vehicles coming from Dispur side via Axis bank point.

Presently, there are three ITMS (Intelligent Traffic Management System) traffic signals installed at Six Mile junction viz. VIP road-Panjabari road crossing, Jayanagar-GS Road crossing and near Axis Bank point.

Traffic congestion under the flyover: The worst traffic congestion is seen at the merging point of vehicles at Panjabari-VIP road – GS road leading to Panjabari/VIP road. Vehicles coming from Panjabari tend to move straight towards Khanapara/Jayanagar/G S Road, a portion towards VIP road and also some vehicles take turn towards Panjabari itself.

Similarly, vehicles coming from VIP road tend to go to Khanparara side and some towards Panjabari. While, vehicles coming from G S road moves towards VIP road / Panjabari. Due to size of vehicular traffic on these three routes, this crossing is affected most over other points requiring traffic police to stop vehicles for 3 to 5 minutes at peak hours.

Being at close proximity, all the crossings / merger points create problems for each other at the time of clearance of the traffic. Thus, rendering the ITMS system is often a failure, and Traffic Police is found to be navigating the vehicular traffic on all the points.

Usually, the traffic congestion on working days (Monday to Saturday) at the Six Mile junction remains from 8 AM to 11 AM in the morning and from 5PM to 9 PM in the evening. However, on Sundays, there is no much traffic congestion in the morning hours. However, during unusual situations like, accidents, movement of VIPs etc, the congestion may be even bigger.

The Six-mile flyover is mostly used by the heavy-duty vehicles and long route buses, hence, its contribution in easing the traffic in Six-Mile junction is minimal.

Other factors contributing to the traffic congestion are presence of large number of E-rickshaws, motorised rickshaws, occupation of footpaths by local vendors/ hawkers leaving no room for pedestrians to commute. Thus, forcing pedestrians to walk through road instead of foot path. There is also rampant unauthorised parking of vehicles on both sides of VIP road near the fish and vegetable market, as well as Panjabari road, which contributes to the traffic congestion.

There is no artificial flooding in and around Six-Mile junction. The problem of artificial flooding has long been solved by the administration devising adequate sewage system.

Survey Findings: I went around ten nearby shops at Six-Mile flyover for interaction with the shopkeepers and roadside vendors, for a better understanding of the traffic condition experienced by the public on a daily basis. One of the shopkeepers said that the traffic problems are due to the technical issues hence, there’s no room for any solution.

Some others commented that the flyover structure itself is a faulty one and that extension of the existing flyover towards Jayanagar and VIP road would ease the traffic problem to some extent. One of the shopkeepers Jayprakash Sharma, expressed his frustration over the perennial traffic congestion and alleged that the surge in traffic congestion is seen after the installation of the ITMS system which are not functioning properly.

He further added that the traffic police have actually made the situation worse, as they don’t work efficiently. He alleged that for the smallest of issues, traffic police personnel put the entire traffic at halt, which worsens the traffic conditions at Six -Mile flyover.

A few of them pointed that the on-duty traffic police at times, confuse the cars coming from outside Guwahati i.e. Meghalaya, and try to take monetary benefits from them. On the other hand, some claimed that there is no issue with the system, but the problem of congestion has become more acute due to people getting more and more personal vehicles. Ratul Sharma one of the shopkeepers at Six-Mile complained that major contributor to the traffic congestion are the E-rickshaws and motorised rickshaws who very often violate traffic rules.

Recommendation: In view of the present condition of roads and ever-increasing vehicular traffic in Guwahati city, there is little scope left for improvement in the existing traffic control system. Administration has installed adequate number of traffic signals having latest technology and at the same time, adequate number of traffic police personnel are also deployed in the traffic signals to navigate vehicular traffic.

 However, the following steps may make difference to some extent in easing the existing traffic congestion problem:

• Minimise the number of E-rickshaws / motorised rickshaws.
• Streamline parking of vehicles.
• Removal of hawkers/vendors from footpaths.
• Provision of zebra crossings on VIP road.
• Strict action against traffic rule violators.

Besides, the administration may consider the following major steps to improve the traffic problems:

• Acquisition of land in Six-Mile junction area to broaden the existing roads and to extend flyover over the roads leading to Jayanagar and also over the VIP road.
• Government may hire experts to seek their opinions in this regard.

Conclusion: This field survey conducted recently carries real time information and factual situation on ground at Six-Mile traffic junction and about the traffic congestion problem. The suggestions made for the improvement of traffic problem are based on individual comments made by the shopkeepers, roadside vendors and commuters around the Six-Mile junction. After going through the report, the readers will have a greater understanding about the current traffic situation at Six-Mile junction.

Kristi Flora Karki is a student of Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University

28-07-2024

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