Ahmedabad: Encouraged by the favourable outcome of its new ‘capsule formula’ at the Palladium Mall junction on SG Highway, the Ahmedabad Traffic Police will extend the signal-free traffic model to the Kargil crossroads from Tuesday on a trial basis.

The traffic management system was introduced at the Palladium junction a few weeks ago by removing traffic signals and replacing them with a capsule-shaped median that allows vehicles to keep moving without stopping. According to the police, the experiment has significantly reduced congestion, with more than one lakh vehicles now saving time and fuel every day while passing through the junction.

Traffic DCP Naresh Kanajaria said that before the new system was introduced, motorists had to wait for nearly two minutes at the traffic signal. Under the capsule model, each commuter is saving around one minute on average.

Following the positive response, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, in coordination with the traffic police, has constructed an asphalt road beneath the bridge at the Kargil crossroads. Barricades have also been installed, and the capsule formula will be implemented on an experimental basis from Tuesday morning. More than 50,000 vehicles pass through the Kargil junction every day.

Under the signal-free U-turn model, straight-moving traffic on both roads continues without interruption, eliminating head-on conflicts at the intersection. Vehicles intending to turn right are required to travel a short distance ahead, take a designated U-turn around the capsule divider, and then merge onto the desired road. Left turns remain free, allowing vehicles to move without waiting at a signal.

Officials say the design improves traffic flow by removing signal halts while maintaining safer vehicle movement through controlled U-turns. Although motorists may need to travel an additional 100 to 200 metres to make a U-turn, authorities say the uninterrupted movement saves considerably more time and fuel than waiting at traffic signals. DeshGujarat