After setting up make-shift roundabouts to tackle traffic at Dwarka sub-city, Delhi Police are now about to repeat the exercise at Rohini sub-city in the northwest peripheries of the national Capital.
Inter-sectorial roads in the Rohini sub-city witness traffic flow at a snail’s pace in the peak hours of almost all weekdays. Also, traffic congestion in outer Delhi’s Badli area, which have a cascading effect, reportedly adds to the clogging up of roads in Rohini.
“The Rohini project is presently in a planning phase. The location for the roundabouts are yet to be decided, so are the diameter and other technical aspects. However, the plan shall be executed and if it works, the authorities shall be asked to construct permanent roundabouts there,” said Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
Such an experiment was first taken up at two intersections in Janpath area of New Delhi. According to the Delhi Traffic Police, the experiment turned out to be a success and the message was conveyed to the concerned authority. “Traffic cones were used to create roundabouts and the signals were turned off. It still continues to be so and the concerned authority has been asked to look into the idea of making permanent roundabouts there,” said senior official.
In April 2015, Delhi Police set up as many as 17 make-shift roundabouts at various intersections in Dwarka sub-city.
According to experts in road design, properly designed roundabouts are suitable for intersections catering to a per hour traffic flow between 500 and 5,000 vehicles.
Properly designed roundabouts can automatically regulate the traffic through geometrics.
Roundabouts convert direct conflicts into cross conflicts, thus reducing the impact of probable accidents and also providing space for vehicles to negotiate, said Dr PK Sarkar, head of the department of transport planning at the School of Planning and Architecture.