Encroachments lead to traffic chaos near bus stand

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 21

To manage traffic around the city bus stand has become a herculean task for the district administration and traffic police. Encroachments upon the road by roadside vendors and a huge number of auto-rickshaws waiting for passengers are the root cause of the problem.

The auto-rickshaws waiting for passengers block the entrance of the bus stand, causing chaos and making it difficult for buses to enter.

Unruly scenes were also witnessed in the past near the bus stand when bus drivers and auto-rickshaw drivers exchanged heated arguments.

The bus stand authorities had also reportedly complained to the police in this connection. However, the situation remained the same as police officials expressed their helplessness over the issue.

A couple of cops deputed near the bus stand finds it difficult to control the rush while commuters and passengers allege that traffic policemen are hardly serious about regulating traffic.

Arshdeep Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, who go to his native place by bus from the bus stand and vice-versa, said, “The authorities concerned have failed to make the entrance of the bus stand free from chaos. Though they have some private security personal deputed at the entrance, they also express their inability to improve the situation. Earlier, there used to be different entrance and existing points for buses. Now, the buses also enter the bus stand as their wish.”

“We had tried to clear the passage a number of times but auto-rickshaw drivers never listened to us. They always ready to exchange heated arguments,” said a security personal, who did not wish to be named.

A visit to the bus stand revealed that some pull carts have been placed to create a hurdle and divide the routes of auto-rickshaws. The auto-rickshaws coming from the outer ring road of the walled city towards the bus stand return from this point. The auto-rickshaws plying towards Chheharta, Batala Road and Majitha Road return from the GT Road.

Though arrangements have been made to regulate traffic on the GT Road, these hardly make any difference.

Residents suggest that the auto-rickshaws should not be allowed to reach the entrance from the outer ring road side.

The construction work near the bus stand on the GT Road also leads to frequent traffic jams. Long queues of vehicles moving at a snail’s pace can be witnessed throughout the day.

Police Commissioner SS Srivastava said solving traffic problem was his one of the priorities. He would look into the issue, he added.

Sometimes situation turns ugly 

• Auto-rickshaws waiting for passengers block the entrance of the bus stand, causing chaos and making it difficult for buses to enter. Unruly scenes were also witnessed in the past near the bus stand when bus drivers and auto-rickshaw drivers exchanged heated arguments.
• The bus stand authorities had also reportedly complained to the police in this connection. However, the situation remained the same as police officials expressed their helplessness over the issue.