Kohima Smart CIty and Kohima Traffic Police improve city mobility

As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav's Placemaking Marathon round 2, Kohima Smart City and Kohima Traffic Police worked to improve two important intersections in Kohima: PHQ and TCP Junction.

According to the Annual Administrative Report 2022 of Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL), the Smart City officials who recorded the existing traffic movement, pedestrian movement, and user behaviors at various times of the day were the first to analyse the intersections. On-street parking, random pick-up and drop-off points, unorganised parking, uneven footpaths, informal vendor encroachments, and the absence of dedicated pedestrian crossings and stop lines were all noted in the report.

The remaining spaces were transformed into safe pedestrian islands by the proposed design. The painted pedestrian crossings were connected to the footpath in a continuous manner. Private vehicles and taxis had designated pick-up and drop-off locations.

To cut down on traffic, the bus stop was moved away from the intersection. At the intersection, traffic was slowed down with traffic calming measures. According to the report, "This was a tactical trial that was implemented using temporary water-based paints to monitor and evaluate the users' behaviors, feasibility, and adaptability to the change."

The tactical trial was successful, and the smart city plans are now being implemented permanently, cites the report