Ahmedabad’s capsule traffic system, introduced at around 28 junctions to ease congestion, has faced opposition from the Congress, which says the arrangement is increasing travel distances and inconvenience for commuters at several locations. The party has written to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s deputy commissioner and the city’s traffic deputy commissioner seeking an immediate review and withdrawal of the system.
According to the report by Divya Bhaskar, Traffic DCP Naresh Kanjariya has introduced the capsule system at different junctions as part of an effort to regulate traffic flow. The DCP has also been visiting locations and posting videos on social media about the traffic arrangements. The report does not include a response from the traffic department or the AMC to the objections raised by the Congress.
The dispute is particularly focused on the corridor between Ajit Mill crossroads and Memco crossroads. Congress representatives said the 1.5-kilometre stretch contains four flyover bridges built at significant public cost, but traffic congestion has continued. They alleged that encroachments and administrative inaction have prevented the infrastructure from delivering the intended relief.
The party has further claimed that the capsule arrangement at Bapunagar crossroads is forcing motorists to travel an additional one to two kilometres at each circle, even when the detour is not necessary for their destination. According to the allegation, the resulting changes are increasing both travel time and fuel expenditure for citizens.
The Congress has called for an impartial committee to conduct a proper survey before decisions are taken at the affected junctions. Its representation also asks the authorities to remove temporary sheet sheds before the festivals and deploy traffic police personnel, traffic response personnel and the encroachment department at congestion points.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Amit Nayak alleged that the AMC and traffic department were handling the issue inefficiently. He also alleged that traffic personnel were not addressing congestion adequately. These claims were made as part of the party’s opposition to the system and were not independently established in the supplied report.
The Congress has warned of a larger protest if the capsule system is not withdrawn. The immediate next step identified in the report is the consideration of the party’s representation by the AMC and traffic authorities, alongside a possible survey of the affected junctions.
