Autos lead to traffic chaos on single service lane opposite ISBT

Commuters, especially on two-wheelers and pedestrians, are harassed at plying of auto-rickshaw on the narrow service lane opposite the Shahid Madan Lal Dhingra ISBT road.

Geetika Mahajan, a resident of Tehsilpura, said the hardly 20-foot wide service lane is connected with scores of narrow streets of Hussainpura and Tehsilpura. Residents of these narrow streets use the service lane to avoid using the busy GT road passing along. Yet auto-rickshaws ply their vehicles from both sides of the service lane causing harassment to small vehicles.

Plying of auto-rickshaw on the service lane from Hussainpura to Pingalwara despite availability of one-way GT road, both up and down, along the ISBT road causes harassment to pedestrians and two wheeler commuters. It is causing undue inconvenience to commuters, especially pedestrians, and two-wheelers who find their space gobbled up on both sides.

Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Hussainpura, said: “Opposite the ISBT, there are several narrow streets on the GT road. All these lanes are densely populated. The government built a service lane during the construction of the elevated road. It provides a secure and easy passage to the people living along the streets from speeding heavy vehicles on the GT road”.

Saurav Mahajan, another resident of the area, said, “The service lane provided relief to residents of Hussainpura, Sharifpura and Tehsilpura. Besides, two-wheeler riders find it a convenient alternative to avoid traffic bottlenecks near ISBT. Pointing out another glaring problem, he said, “Shopkeepers have encroached upon the service lane. A move which further narrows the lane. He urged the authorities to redress these two glaring problems to provide relief to commuters. Harpal Singh, ADCP (Traffic) said they would now allow autorickshas to ply on the service lane when entire GT road both sides are available for them.