The police administration has once again decided to shut down traffic movement at Akashwani Chowk by installing barricades, citing a rise in road accidents and persistent traffic congestion in the area. Authorities had earlier reopened the junction during the recent municipal corporation elections to allow smoother vehicular movement. The decision to reopen the intersection on Jalna Road was reportedly influenced by political pressure at the time. However, after inviting public objections and suggestions on January 21, officials reviewed the situation again. Following four major accidents and several minor mishaps along with daily traffic jams, the administration decided to restore restrictions at the busy junction.
Earlier, when the junction remained closed, vehicles approaching from Kranti Chowk were required to move towards Jawahar Colony via Akashwani Chowk and continue towards the Seven Hills Flyover. Motorists then had to take a U-turn and return from the opposite direction to reach their destination. Similarly, commuters travelling from CIDCO and heading towards Mahesh Nagar had to drive ahead to Mondha Naka before taking a U-turn. This arrangement was implemented to regulate traffic flow and prevent congestion at the busy intersection.
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As per the latest decision, authorities have reinstated the earlier rule of keeping Akashwani Chowk closed to traffic daily between 9 am and 9 pm to manage peak-hour congestion. Residents from Jawahar Colony and Mahesh Nagar had previously opposed this restriction and even staged protests demanding the junction remain open. Despite these objections, officials maintained the closure policy. However, during the recent municipal corporation elections, the chowk was temporarily reopened due to political pressure, allowing vehicles to pass directly through the junction for a short period.
Soon after traffic resumed through the intersection, several accidents were reported, along with growing complaints of severe traffic congestion during peak hours. Officials noted that reopening the junction had worsened road safety and traffic management in the surrounding areas. In view of these concerns, the administration has now reverted to the earlier traffic regulation plan. Authorities believe that restricting vehicle movement at the chowk between 9 am and 9 pm will help reduce accidents and ease congestion on nearby roads, ensuring smoother traffic flow and improved safety for commuters travelling through the busy city corridor.