The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has announced plans to shut down 21 traffic signals on Mahal Road, Sikar Road, and Sanganer Road by the end of this year. These signals will be replaced with U-turn bays as part of a Rs 50-crore initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city.
Construction Already Underway
Officials confirmed that construction of the U-turn bays has already begun on Mahal Road. The JDA will start building similar bays on Sikar Road and New Sanganer Road on June 30. A JDA official stated, “While we would stop five signals and construct U-turn bays on Mahal Road, at each of New Sanganer Road and Sikar Road, we are going to stop eight signals.”
How the New System Works
Under the new arrangement, vehicles that would normally turn right at these junctions will instead continue straight, use the U-turn bays to turn around, and then return via the opposite lane to make a left turn at the signal. A senior JDA official explained, “The idea behind this plan is simple. Vehicles travelling on the main thoroughfares need not wait at the signals. This would improve the flow of traffic, thereby reducing overall congestion on city roads.”
Impact of Metro Construction
Traffic officials from the Jaipur Commissionerate noted that Mahal Road and Sikar Road are expected to face increased pressure in the coming months due to the Jaipur Metro Phase II construction, which will run through Tonk Road and Sikar Road. A traffic official remarked, “Vehicles heading towards Tonk Road (beyond Prahaladpura) from the northern and eastern parts of the city can take Mahal Road to reach Tonk Road, avoiding the metro construction zone. This would increase the traffic volume on Mahal Road. Similarly, with construction underway, vehicles would move slowly on Sikar Road. Such a ‘signal-free arrangement’ would help to keep the traffic flow steady.”
This initiative aims to provide smoother traffic flow on key arterial roads, minimizing delays and improving overall travel efficiency for commuters.
