Indore traffic police have introduced a special traffic management plan for the Rajwada area and surrounding traditional markets during Diwali shopping, with vehicle restrictions, diversions, designated parking zones and drone surveillance planned to manage increased crowds.
The arrangements cover Rajwada, Sarafa, Bartan Bazaar, Aada Bazaar, Machhi Bazaar, Yashwant Road, Peepli Bazaar and other nearby commercial areas. Traffic will be diverted in three layers at key junctions, including the Malharganj Police Station T-junction, Gorakund Square, Imli Bazaar Square, Malganj Square, Narsingh Bazaar Square, Yashwant Road Square, Aada Bazaar Chowk, Machhi Bazaar Chowk, Pandharinath Temple Chowk, Nandlalpura Chowk and Nagar Nigam Square.
Heavy vehicles, buses, four-wheelers, autos and e-rickshaws will not be permitted to enter internal market roads from the main diversion points. Entry of two-wheelers will also be regulated depending on crowd levels. In the most congested inner markets, traffic police will prioritise pedestrian movement, according to the plan reported by Times of India.
Shoppers have been directed to use designated parking areas at Jinsi Haat Maidan, Subhash Chowk, Khajuri Bazaar, Bajaj Khana, Fruit Market, Riverside, Kothari Market and Poddar Plaza. Traffic police have also appealed to citizens to use public transport, avoid no-parking zones and follow instructions issued by personnel deployed in the markets.
Alternative routes have been identified for several important journeys. Vehicles travelling from Regal towards the airport can use Rajkumar Bridge, Marimata, Wireless T-junction and Bada Ganpati. Motorists travelling from Palasia towards the Collectorate can take the White Church, Sapna Sangeeta Road and Tower Square route. Vehicles travelling from Bada Ganpati towards Palasia can use Wireless Tiraha, Marimata Square and Rajkumar Bridge.
Enforcement teams will remain active during the shopping period. Crane teams will remove vehicles parked in no-parking zones or left in a disorderly manner, while wheel-lock teams will take action against offending vehicles. Bullet announcement teams and patrolling units will operate across the area to communicate restrictions and manage movement.
Drone surveillance will monitor crowd density and traffic pressure in the major markets. The deployment reflects the challenge of managing festival demand in older commercial areas, where narrow internal roads serve shoppers, residents, delivery vehicles and public transport at the same time.
Traffic police have asked citizens to park only in designated areas, avoid unauthorised roadside parking and cooperate with personnel on duty. The diversions and restrictions will remain linked to crowd and traffic conditions in the Rajwada market zone.
