HYDERABAD: Khairatabad junction has long baffled traffic experts for its lack of smooth flow of traffic. With five legs, of which four are major thoroughfares, peak hour traffic of 20,000-plus vehicles and water-logging during downpour, the junction has always been an acid test.

After making a few key changes recently, the MCH is claiming to have solved the puzzle at the intersection that leads to Necklace road flyover, Lakdikapul, Punjagutta, Raj Bhavan and Anandnagar.

The MCH Traffic and Transportation wing in association with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) untied the knot by reducing the distance from traffic lights to different roads, increasing width of approach roads, shifting central medians considering traffic flow and installing light emitting diodes (LED) traffic lights for greater visibility.

Consequently, gap between central medians of Punjagutta-Necklace road and Punjagutta to Lakdikapul were reduced.

Approach roads were widened: Necklace road flyover for a distance of 150 metre, Punjagutta for a distance of 250 m, Raj Bhavan to Lakdikapul for a distance of 50 m and Raj Bhavan to Necklace road - left splay. Officials say the junction capacity has increased by 30 percent after the revamp and each signal phase reduced to 140 seconds from 210 seconds, saving 70 seconds waiting time for vehicles and reducing queue lengths. While the works cost Rs.38 lakhs, the saving in fuel and travel time was estimated to be Rs.4.55 crores.

"We redesigned the junction in such a manner that it took care of peak hour traffic and ensured a safe zone," says Additional Commissioner (Traffic & Transportation) N.V.S. Reddy. The new kidney island off Raj Bhavan road is to safeguard the turning movements and avoid accidents.

Incidentally, this was the first junction discharging seven lakh vehicles (22,044 in morning peak hour and 20,905 in evening peak hour) identified by MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju for improvement.

As he was concerned about persistent water-logging during rain, a water collecting pit was facilitated under the road and connected to the storm water drain nearby. Zebra crossings and traffic lights, too, were reconfigured to make the road pedestrian-friendly.

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