Visitors at ‘Kothe da Mela’ face traffic chaos as Vallah flyover construction delayed

The annual fair — “Kothe da Mela” — at Vallah village on the outskirts of the city has become a test for visitors’ patience, thanks to the delayed construction of a flyover on the route. For the third year in a row, devotees flocking to the fair are forced to navigate through traffic jams and chaos before they reach Vallah.

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“It’s frustrating to see that the flyover construction work is still incomplete,” said Gurmeet Singh, a visitor from a nearby village. “We come to pay respects to Guru Teg Bahadur, but the traffic congestion makes it a nightmare,” he said.

The fair, which celebrates the visit of the ninth Sikh Guru to Vallah village, attracts thousands of devotees every year. The festival, also known as — “Maian da Mela” — is a month-long celebration, but Sundays see the highest footfall of visitors.

As the vegetable market from Hall Gate was shifted to Vallah over a decade ago, tractor-trailers ferrying vegetables from fields and trucks transporting produce to other places create heavy traffic congestion in the area. The area also witnessed large-scale residential and commercial constructions during recent years.

“Traffic jams have become a regular affair on this route,” local resident Kuldeep Kaur said, while adding that it was not just devotees, who were affected, but daily commuters, who used this highway, were also facing harassment.

Despite chaos, the devotees remain undeterred. “We will continue to come at Vallah and pay respects to our Guru. We hope that the authorities concerned will take note of our plight and complete the flyover construction soon,” said Ranjit Singh.