Subway project adds to chaos on Kunjwani-Gangyal stretch

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Jammu, March 20

The Kunjwani-Gangyal stretch of around 1 km on the national highway has turned into a high traffic zone due to construction of a subway at Gangyal on the outskirts of the city.

Traffic snarls have become a routine of the day on this small stretch, especially during office hours and in the late evening. As a result, resentment has been brewing up among local residents as well as shopkeepers of the area.

“The 3.6-km stretch from Kunjwani to Satwari is a double lane but still the traffic problem persists, especially at Gangyal. Now the work on the subway project is creating a lot of problems for us. There is so much dust coming inside our shops and homes due to ongoing construction work of the subway,” said Rattan Lal, a provision store owner.

“Before the start of the subway project at Gangyal, the condition of the road had deteriorated considerably because there was no repair/maintenance of the road since it was laid. The road has now developed numerous potholes and they have been further widened due to ongoing construction work,” Banarsi, a local resident said.

“Considering the importance of the route, no major efforts have been taken to decongest the traffic which is increasing every day. There is absolute chaos in the evening hours when heavy vehicles carrying goods from the Industrial Area join the stranded vehicles at main chowk of the Gangyal area where even traffic policemen fail to streamline the traffic,” he claimed.

“The passenger sheds, which were constructed on the roadside for the convenience of commuters, have also been removed. We are waiting for early completion of the work so that the traffic problem is solved,” said Rajiv, a shopkeeper.