'Always congested' Kamta crossingtweaked to ease traffic flow

Lucknow: The Kamta crossing has been revamped to facilitate smoother traffic flow , resolving congestion for both city traffic and vehicles arriving through NH Barabanki-Lucknow highway.

The Public Works Department (PWD) completed strategic alterations and geometric adjustments at the intersection within a month, after spending Rs 1.37 crore for the project.

"The enhancements encompass improved U-turn facilities, broader service lanes, organised entry/exit points connecting service lanes to Shaheed Path, and measures to prevent wrong-way movement by establishing dedicated unhindered left turns towards the High Court area," said Satyendra Nath, executive engineer, PWD.

Detailing the modifications, Arbab Ahmad, Lucknow-based road safety expert whose private consultancy Studio Urbanlinq LLP, suggested the geometric corrections at the intersection, said, "The service lanes of Shaheed Path on both sides were about seven metres, we have extended them up to 10.5 metres. We have streamlined the service lane. Further all the bus stops and auto-rickshaw stands have been shifted to 50 metres back from the pedestrian crossing (Zebra crossing) at the roundabout."

Arbab added, "At three locations we have introduced rumble strips (transverse bars markers) to control speed. One is at the exit of Shaheed Path while coming from Amausi, the second is on the lane where vehicles are coming from Barabanki, and the third is on the stretch where vehicles are coming from Polytechnic."

He further explained, "The biggest challenge on roundabouts in UP is disciplining the auto-rickshaw stands and bus stops, as the drivers of public transport vehicles tend to halt at the heart of the roundabout. Moreover, regular vehicle drivers also stop their vehicles on zebra crossings, blocking the pedestrian path."