Metro work turns Hingna Road Into gridlock

Nagpur: The ongoing construction work of metro extension has turned Hingna Road stretch into a daily traffic bottleneck with commuters reporting long delays and chaotic vehicle movement. The junction connecting Wanadongri Municipal Council to the busy Hingna Road has become narrow due to barricading and pillar construction for the metro project.Vehicles coming from multiple directions jostle for space at the narrowed carriageway, slowing down traffic flow significantly. Commuters complain of frequently getting stuck in the congestion, particularly during peak hours.The stretch witnesses heavy traffic due to the presence of several educational institutions and healthcare facilities. During morning and afternoon hours, the movement of school buses, vans, ambulances and private vehicles further intensifies traffic chaos, creating long queues of vehicles approaching the junction.Residents said the absence of traffic regulation has worsened the situation. Many motorists are left to navigate the intersection on their own with traffic personnel rarely seen at the spot."Crossing this junction during peak hours has become extremely difficult," said Rahul Deshmukh, a resident who travels through the stretch daily. "Vehicles from different directions try to squeeze through the narrow space leading to frequent traffic jams," he added. Another resident, Adarsh Kumar, said the traffic snarls worsen further when school buses or other heavy vehicles ply on the stretch. "Due to space constraints, it gets difficult for buses to take a turn at the T-point," he said.Business owners and professionals in the area also highlighted how frequent traffic congestions are affecting emergency access and daily movement. "When traffic piles up, even ambulances struggle to pass through," said Dr Sneha Pal, who runs a clinic in the vicinity. "Until the construction work is completed, there should be proper traffic management to prevent chaos."A source from the traffic police department acknowledged the congestion at the junction but pointed out that round the clock deployment of personnel was difficult due to manpower constraints. The official said that traffic staff were generally assigned to the spot during peak hours and on weekends.Officials added that managing multiple busy junctions across the city with limited personnel often requires prioritising locations based on immediate traffic pressure.