Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad’s most dangerous traffic junctions tell a familiar story: speeding vehicles, broken signals, risky road design and weak enforcement combining into deadly daily routines. From Naroda Patiya in the east to SG Highway and the under-construction corridors in the west, commuters navigate intersections where one mistake can turn fatal.At Naroda Patiya junction — identified by the Gujarat Road Safety Authority (GRSA) as the city’s deadliest intersection — chaos begins long before the signal changes. Ecco vans and autorickshaws crowd the junction during peak hours, narrowing visibility and choking traffic flow. Since 2019, the intersection has witnessed 14 deaths, according to GRSA data.A traffic booth stands at the centre of the junction, but locals claim enforcement is inconsistent and the signal system has remained unreliable for months.Shopkeeper Devidas Khubchandani, who has seen multiple crashes unfold over the years, believes reckless behaviour and poor policing are the biggest concerns. “Accidents happen here because drivers speed and pedestrians run across,” he said. He dismissed the under-construction flyover as a complete solution. “Traffic police should have continuous arrangements — duty to duty. They are present for duty, but they all just sit inside the booth,” he alleged.On the western edge of the city, Pakwan Junction on SG Highway presents a different but equally dangerous picture. Despite having a flyover, the junction has recorded seven deaths, exposing how infrastructure alone cannot eliminate risk.Road design itself appears to contribute to confusion. A large bird sculpture near the SBR service lane creates what officials describe as an ambiguous entry point, while a deity statue near the Pakwan Hotel side encourages pedestrians to cross through moving turning traffic instead of using safer routes.Further south, the 500-metre YMCA junction stretch has emerged as another accident-prone zone. GRSA data shows seven deaths and 14 accidents on the corridor, where construction of an elevated corridor has intensified congestion and driver impatience.At the nearby Thaltej underpass stretch, the absence of protective barriers has become a major concern for residents and commuters. Hotel valet Ramesh Meena said chain-link fencing could immediately improve safety. “The fencing will certainly help and should be installed immediately,” he said.Retired AMC officer Dr Yogesh Maitrak echoed the concern, saying many accidents occur because pedestrians and motorists ignore basic precautions. “Sometimes people overlook the safety rules. Chain-link fencing should certainly be installed. I believe it will prevent many accidents,” he said.Yet, not every traffic blackspot remains trapped in the same cycle.At Shantipura Crossroads, residents say an AUDA flyover has significantly reduced congestion and lowered the risk of crashes by enabling smoother traffic movement. “Without the flyover it would have led to congestion and then accidents. With smoother movement, the chances of mishaps are reduced,” said commuter Abdul Sheikh.Ujala Circle has shown similar improvement after traffic redesign measures, offering a glimpse of how engineering interventions can make junctions safer when combined with better traffic management.At the busy Juhapura–Vishala stretch, however, residents remain cautiously optimistic about ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Yusuf Khan said the upcoming structure could ease pressure on the corridor. “The structure will definitely help lessen congestion and prevent accidents,” he said, before adding a warning shared across most of the city’s dangerous junctions: “People still drive recklessly. Stronger measures are needed.”
