Bhopal Metro construction could trigger the closure of part of the busy Roshanpura Square–Jehangirabad corridor from November 15, but traffic police have opposed shutting the stretch completely and proposed phased work with at least one lane kept open.
The Metro construction agency has sought permission to close the section between Roshanpura Square and the Raj Bhawan trisection to accelerate construction. The request comes as commuters are already facing daily congestion because of barricades installed for ongoing Metro work. Traffic police are yet to approve the proposed restriction.
A joint team of traffic police and the construction agency inspected the corridor on Friday evening. A final decision is expected after consultations on the work schedule, diversions and preparatory measures required before any closure is implemented.
The proposed road restriction covers a corridor where traffic remains heavy throughout the day. Congestion has been reported around the Raj Bhawan trisection, particularly during peak hours, and further towards MVM College and the Police Control Room. Traffic personnel have been deployed in the area, but managing vehicle movement at the junctions has become difficult.
The Lal Parade Ground–PHQ trisection–Murgi Bazaar stretch is also experiencing regular congestion. Traffic police have attributed part of the problem to slow-moving and improperly parked e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, as well as vehicles parked along the road. The stretch between the DCP Zone-1 office and the PHQ trisection faces additional evening-peak traffic jams.
Under the traffic police proposal, vehicles travelling from Raj Bhawan towards Roshanpura would be allowed to use one lane while traffic moving towards Raj Bhawan would be diverted through Banganga Square. As construction advances, traffic could be diverted through Khatlapura Road towards Jehangirabad. Commuters heading towards Jehangirabad would also be directed through Banganga Square.
Three Metro pillars are being constructed between Roshanpura Square and Malviya Nagar. Traffic police have advised the construction agency to divide the work into separate phases rather than close the entire stretch at once. The approach is intended to allow construction while retaining some movement through the corridor.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Basant Kaul said preliminary works would need to be completed before the road is closed for Metro construction. The measures, he said, are required to ensure that construction proceeds smoothly while reducing inconvenience for commuters using diverted routes.
The traffic police have also asked the construction agency to make several changes to improve road capacity before restrictions begin. These include demolishing the footpath outside Indian Coffee House near Police Headquarters to create additional carriageway space, shifting electricity poles and a transformer near jewellery showrooms in Malviya Nagar, and clearing the left turn at the PHQ trisection.
The final traffic plan, including the extent and timing of any closure, is expected to be decided after further consultations between the construction agency and traffic police.
