One junction, five roads, endless traffic chaos

Jaipur: At the heart of the city, the Collectorate Circle has become a notorious bottleneck, straining the patience of daily commuters. With nearly 40,000 vehicles traversing this critical junction each day, traffic congestion has reached alarming levels, particularly during peak hours from 10am to noon and 5pm to 8pm.

Strategically positioned, the circle is the convergence point for traffic from five major routes: MI Road, Madho Singh Road, Sawai Jai Singh Highway, Shiv Marg, and Kabir Marg. This has led to an overwhelming influx of vehicles from adjacent areas including MI Road, Railway Station, Shastri Nagar, Jhotwara, Vidyadhar Nagar and more, causing prolonged wait times in long vehicle queues. Emergency services, such as ambulances and fire tenders, often find themselves ensnared in the gridlock, making even pedestrian crossings a daunting task.

The congestion is exacerbated by key govt establishments nearby, with the Collectorate, Mini Secretariat, and District and Sessions Court located on three sides of the junction, drawing thousands of visitors daily.

Existing parking in the court complex and surrounding govt buildings is proving inadequate to meet the growing demand. Plans for an underground parking facility, initially approved by the now-defunct Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage, have yet to materialise beyond the planning stage.

In response to the escalating congestion, DCP (Traffic) Yogesh Goyal said, “We are working on diversions for traffic coming from Khasa Kothi to reduce the load on Collectorate Circle. The one-way system from Railway Station to Haripura (earlier Hasanpura) during peak hours has been implemented to redirect traffic towards Chinkara, and proposals to widen the road between Railway Station and Haripura are under consideration by the Collector’s office and JDA.”

Goyal said traffic police are exploring potential additional parking locations in nearby buildings. “Our aim is to reduce on-road parking and restrict it to a single lane so that traffic movement remains smooth. Problems are more visible on Mondays and Fridays, especially after the weekend, but we are continuously working on solutions,” the DCP added.

However, he warned that without a strategic relocation of govt offices or the construction of vertical parking options, improvements to the current situation may remain elusive. As officials continue to draft proposals, commuters watch and wait for relief from the daily traffic turmoil plaguing the Collectorate Circle.

VOX POP

Jassi, Kabir Marg Resident

“This is an everyday problem for us. Vehicles parked by lawyers and court visitors often block the entire stretch, making it difficult even for residents to get in and out of their own lanes.”

Kartik Solanki, Local Resident

“If you visit the area in the afternoon, you’ll find the lanes completely clogged with vehicles. In an emergency, it would be extremely difficult for an ambulance or fire tender to get through. As long as the court remains here, residents fear the situation is unlikely to improve.”