Real change on road or sham fixes? 6cr to mend ‘black spots’

Bhopal: Civic body budget on Monday set aside Rs 6.90 crore for redesigning intersections and clearing left-turn lanes. On paper, this targets "black spots" — accident-prone junctions that residents know as daily choke points. The figure, however, is modest for a city of Bhopal's size, suggesting only a handful of junctions will see real change. The impact will depend on whether the fixes are structural redesigns or just cosmetic adjustments.Market relocations are another headline item. The Navbahar Vegetable Market, still occupied by unauthorised traders despite earlier relocation, is slated for clearance. The Itwara Meat Market, criticised for hygiene and congestion, will be shifted to a new covered facility. These moves could ease traffic in crowded pockets, but relocation projects often face resistance from traders and delays in execution.