Suggestions for JM-FC Road one-way system

Problems observed:
Vehicles coming from Model Colony-Deep Bangla chowk side are unable to take right turn at Lalit Mahal chowk to proceed to FC Road/JM Road. Thus,all vehicles including PMPML buses have begun using the narrow canal road link to reach Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk. This is making the road unsafe and causing congestion at the canal road exit near the chowk.

Vehicles approaching Agriculture college chowk from University side cannot turn right at the chowk to access FC road and JM Road,Balgandharva chowk via Modern college road or Ghole Road. Instead,they are required to take a long detour via Sancheti chowk and Barve chowk to reach JM road and further to FC road.

Solution:
Single contra-flow lane should be provided from Agriculture College chowk to Dnyaneshwar paduka chowk. Vehicles from University side will take right turn at Agriculture chowk to reach Dnyaneshwar paduka Chowk,avoiding the long detour.

A two-phase signal should be provided at Lalit Mahal chowk. Right turn from this lane to Model Colony should not be allowed at Lalit Mahal chowk but vehicles from Model Colony side can take right turn to this lane at the chowk to reach Dnyaneshwar paduka chowk avoiding the canal road.

At Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk,only left turn to Modern College road should be allowed from the contra-flow lane.

We feel the reduction in FC Road’s width due to the above contra-flow lane as well as the Lalit Mahal chowk signal will not create problems for the FC road traffic to Agriculture College Chowk,as a large chunk of the traffic from Good Luck junction turns right at Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk and only the remaining vehicles proceed ahead towards Agriculture chowk.

Tukaram Paduka chowk Problems observed:
Right turn is allowed from Ghole Road to FC Road. However,these vehicles are not clearly visible in time to the fast-moving FC Road vehicle drivers due to the Tukaram Paduka mandir located right at the corner. This has created unsafe conditions at Tukaram paduka chowk.

FC Road vehicles cannot take right turn to Ghole Road at Tukaram Paduka chowk. They then proceed to Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk and use the narrow interconnecting lanes from Modern College Road which,puts pressure on these lanes.

Solution:
Right turn from Ghole Road to FC Road should be banned at Tukaram Paduka chowk. They can use interconnecting lanes to reach FC Road via Dnyaneshwar Paduka chowk.

Vehicles in the right half of FC Road should be allowed to turn right to Ghole Road. PMPML buses should not be allowed the right turn.

Barricades should be provided at road centre on FC Road at Tukaram Paduka Chowk so that vehicles on left side of FC Road will not turn right but proceed straight only.

Good Luck chowk Problem observed:
Several vehicles coming from Garware subway side or Bhandarkar Road prefer to use Apte Road to reach JM Road using interconnecting lanes or Ghole Road. This increases pressure on the already congested Apte road.

Solution:
Left turn for entry to Apte Road should be banned and barricades put on half of the road at the entry. Left turn from Apte Road towards Natraj junction should be permitted as at present.

Natraj junction
Problem observed:
JM Road narrows to two lanes at the Natraj junction. Traffic from Good Luck junction side has to take a right turn and move along a curved path to join JM Road just ahead of the Natraj junction near the PMPML bus stand entrance. Buses entering the bus stand have to move diagonally cutting across JM Road traffic.

Similarly,other vehicles in the traffic wanting to proceed towards Bhide Bridge just after the bus stand. This creates clashing of JM Road and Good Luck side traffic in the JM Road stretch between the entry and exit of PMPML bus stand causing unsafe road conditions.

Solution:
Good Luck side traffic should be halted prior to the Natraj junction when JM Road traffic is flowing. A signal should be provided for this purpose. A pedestrian signal has already been provided at the Natraj junction and JM Road traffic halts during the pedestrian phase.

During the same period,the Good Luck side traffic should be allowed to proceed.

The pedestrian phase timing should be suitably adjusted as required for this traffic. This should not be large,as a major portion of traffic at Good Luck junction will be proceeding towards FC Road. Halting of Good Luck side traffic at Natraj junction will also provide safe opportunity for pedestrians to cross the roads in that sector.

It is hoped that the authorities consider our suggestions.

Prashant Inamdar

Convenor

Pedestrians FIRST