VADODARA, Aug 18: Even as the debate continues over the efficacy of the new traffic arrangement for vehicles moving through Kalaghoda Circle for Rajmahal Road and Kothi, citizens have already found a way to avoid the long rounded route. The roads within the sprawling SSG Hospital campus have become public thoroughfares for all practical purposes.Three-wheelers and two-wheelers coming from Salatwada and bound for the Railway Station are supposed to take a circuitous route via Kothi Building and Railway Police Headquarters and Central Jail Road.Instead, cars are seen driving through the Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad Hospital, apparently to save fuel as well as time.The new traffic system was introduced on August 10 for a five-day trial run, aiming to reduce traffic jam at Kalaghoda circle from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The new system, however, has apparently become a permanent arrangement since the police maintain that it has indeed reduced pressure on Kalaghoda.As roads from Kalaghoda roundabout to Kothi Building crossroad and from Railway Police Headquarters to Kalaghoda via Central jail road have been converted into single lanes during peak hours, vehicles coming from Kalaghoda and headed for various destinations in the walled city and Makarpura have to pass through the road opposite the Baroda Medical College, Kothi Building crossing and Railway Police Headquarters trijunction.However, daily commuters passing through Kalaghoda circle feel there hasn't been any substantial reduction in traffic congestion; instead, there has been congestion at Kothi Building crossing and Railway Police Headquarters trijunction. They feel that previous arrangement under which the traffic head for Makarpura and Dandia Bazar took a diversion from Kalaghoda was a better alternative.
