Traffic congestion at Fountain Chowk irks commuters

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 19

The traffic police are finding it difficult to ensure smooth flow of traffic at Fountain Chowk, one of the busiest intersections in the city, during peak hours. Commuters face a tough time to cross the intersection, especially in the afternoon.

Despite lights, around five to six traffic police personnel have to direct traffic at this roundabout.

Long queues of vehicles can be seen at the chowk. Experts believe that the flow of traffic at such roundabouts can only be managed if slip roads are built. The experts are of the view that to tackle traffic congestions, only lights are not enough.

Traffic snarls can be witnessed at the chowk between 12 pm and 2 pm. The experts say cumulative measures are required to ease traffic congestions near such chowks.

Experts believe initiatives such as speed limit warnings, slip roads, construction of walkways, one-way traffic system, parking restrictions on the roadsides and encouraging people to use cycles are required to solve the problem.

Yuvraj Sharma, a commuter, said, “It is a long-pending issue and the authorities should come up with a permanent solution. In Chandigarh, there are slip roads at almost every roundabout. We should take some ideas from them.”

However, more than 300 cameras have been installed at various locations, including Fountain Chowk, to monitor traffic, but these have not been working for a long time.

Gurdeep Singh, a traffic police officer, said, “Lights are not an effective measure to control traffic at Fountain Chowk because there is no slip road on either side. Slip roads are a must at big chowks. Traffic can be diverted if slip roads are constructed.”

A traffic policeman, who did not wish to be named, said, “Traffic has been handling manually at Fountain Chowk since long. It is a tiring and stressful process during peak hours.”

SP Traffic Amarjeet Singh Ghuman, said, “Recently, a meeting of officials of the district administration and Municipal Corporation was convened. At the meeting, we met engineers of Thapar University and IIT Roorkee. We chalked out a plan to manage traffic at Fountain Chowk. Engineers will find out a way to resolve the issue by March-end.”