Ahmedabad’s Kargil crossroads is traffic signal-free, following a successful trial at the Palladium Mall junction. The Ahmedabad Traffic Police are implementing this system on a trial basis, hoping to replicate the positive results observed at the previous location.
The new traffic management approach, which has been dubbed the ‘capsule formula,’ replaces traditional traffic signals with a unique capsule-shaped median. This design allows vehicles to continue moving without stopping. Traffic DCP Naresh Kanajaria noted that previously, drivers faced waits of nearly two minutes at signals, but under the new model, commuters can save an average of one minute while traversing the area.
At Palladium Mall junction alone, over 100,000 vehicles benefit from reduced congestion daily. Encouraged by these numbers, authorities have enhanced Kargil crossroads with an asphalt road beneath the bridge and installed barricades for improved safety and flow.
This signal-free U-turn model ensures smooth traffic flow on both roads without interruptions while reducing potential conflicts at intersections. Drivers making right turns must travel slightly ahead to use designated U-turns around the capsule divider but can still make left turns freely without waiting.
With more than 50,000 vehicles passing through Kargil every day, officials assert that although motorists may need to drive an extra 100 to 200 meters for a U-turn, this method significantly cuts down time and fuel waste compared to waiting at red lights.