GVMC plans upgrades to major junctions to ease traffic congestion in Visakhapatnam

To improve traffic flow in Visakhapatnam, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has drawn up plans to upgrade major road junctions, including widening free-left turns at key intersections.

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg has conducted field inspections at key junctions to identify traffic bottlenecks and formulate infrastructure improvement plans. The initiative is intended to ease congestion, which the police say has contributed to an increase in road accidents.

According to the police, inadequate road design and narrow junctions often result in free-left lanes being blocked by autorickshaws and other vehicles when traffic signals turn red. The obstruction disrupts the free flow of traffic, leading to congestion and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Against this backdrop, City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi has urged the civic body to expedite junction improvements, modernise traffic signals, and strengthen supporting infrastructure to enhance road safety and traffic management.

As part of its broader strategy, the GVMC has initiated the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence-based Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) under the “Operation Sarathi” project. It is also planning engineering interventions at major intersections to improve traffic movement.

Mr. Garg, accompanied by engineering officials, recently inspected Satyam Junction and Maddilapalem Junction to assess traffic conditions and identify measures to ease congestion. Officials have been directed to prepare detailed proposals for the proposed works at the earliest.