Traffic violations cause daily jams outside Vallah mandi

The road outside the Vallah sabzi mandi has emerged as a major traffic choke point during peak hours, causing daily inconvenience to commuters despite the presence of a flyover constructed to ease congestion. The situation has become a growing concern for residents, office-goers and transport operators who regularly use this busy stretch.

The flyover was built to allow vehicles to cross the mandi area smoothly without getting caught in local traffic. However, the purpose of the infrastructure is being defeated as a large number of motorists continue to take illegal U-turns from the foot of the bridge. Instead of using designated routes, drivers often opt for the shorter but unauthorised turn, resulting in severe traffic jams on both sides of the road.

Authorities had earlier placed concrete boulders near the start of the flyover to discourage such violations. Despite these measures, many motorists continue to flout traffic rules. As vehicles attempt sudden U-turns, traffic flow gets disrupted, leading to long queues and frequent standstill situations, particularly during morning and evening rush hours.

The problem is further aggravated by the heavy movement of trucks, tractor-trolleys and goods carriers heading to the sabzi mandi. The mixing of heavy commercial vehicles with regular city traffic makes the stretch even more difficult to manage. “During peak mandi hours, the road often turns into a bottleneck, increasing travel time and fuel consumption,” said Satnam Singh, a daily commuter.

Local commuters have demanded stricter enforcement of traffic rules and the deployment of traffic police personnel during peak hours. Many have also suggested the installation of permanent dividers to prevent illegal turns.

Another resident, Kewal Ram, said that unless strict action is taken against violators and effective traffic management measures are implemented, the flyover will continue to fall short of its intended purpose, forcing commuters to battle daily congestion on this crucial road stretch.