Frequent bypoll visits by VIPs choke Amritsar airport road, locals slam administration

Frequent visits by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in connection with the Tarn Taran by-election have caused severe traffic congestion on the Amritsar–Airport Road over the past several days, the Amritsar Vikas Manch (AVM) said on Friday. The NGO comprising locals alleged that repeated VIP movements have caused prolonged delays for commuters and air passengers, leading to growing frustration among residents.

In a statement issued here, the Amritsar Vikas Manch said the situation has become particularly distressing for air travellers, who often find themselves stuck in long traffic jams, missing flights and incurring financial losses. The organisation also accused the administration of turning a blind eye to the public’s hardship.

“It appears that the government machinery in Amritsar remains indifferent to the people’s suffering. The traffic police seem solely focused on the Chief Minister’s security arrangements, while ambulances carrying critical patients, passengers rushing to catch flights, and parents waiting for their children are left stranded in jams,” said AVM office-bearers.

The organisation said the entire stretch from Rajasansi to Circuit House lacks functional traffic lights and adequate personnel to regulate the heavy flow of vehicles. “Not a single traffic signal on the airport road is operational and most intersections are left unmanned. Each junction should have at least two officers to manage movement effectively,” the statement added.

Highlighting infrastructural shortcomings, the AVM cited stalled work on key overbridges and underpasses — including those at the bypass–D Block, In-Out Bakery intersection, the underpass near the District Shopping Complex and Amrit Anand Park and the Gumtala Bypass overbridge — as major contributors to the worsening situation. “These incomplete projects have turned crucial city roads into daily choke points, especially during peak hours,” the organisation said.

AVM president Surinderjit Singh Bittu said, “The administration’s inability to manage traffic during high-security movements reflects poor planning and coordination. The airport road is a vital route not only for VIP convoys but also for thousands of residents and passengers who rely on it daily.”

He urged authorities to declare the airport corridor a high-priority route and to adopt long-term solutions. “We demand that the airport road be treated as a high-priority corridor, with permanent deployment of trained traffic personnel and installation of modern signaling systems to ensure smooth and uninterrupted movement,” Bittu added.

AVM general secretary Yogesh Kamra, senior vice-president Rajwinder Singh Gill, patron principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi and member Manmohan Singh Brar also called for better coordination between district police, traffic authorities, and municipal departments. They said the worsening traffic situation across the city reflected the broader collapse of traffic management and urban planning in Amritsar.