Traffic snarls - A big problem in industrial city
City traffic tied up in knots, firm action only way out
With the festive season on, traffic snarls have become a common sight. You never know when you will get stuck in traffic and there are some reasons for which only we are responsible and only we can solve it. The first is big cars and autos which create chaos because there is less space and leads to road rages. The second reason is the encroachments of roads. Shopkeepers encroach upon roads which also lead to congestion. To ease the traffic congestion, one needs to cooperate with others. Car owners should avoid taking out their vehicles at peak hours and a hefty fine should be imposed on the encroachers. The traffic police should be alerted so that incidents of mishaps are not repeated.
Deepali Ludhiana
Follow odd-even system regularly
To reduce traffic, I suggest that the odd-even system is followed even on regular days. There should be a separate lane for buses and proper traffic control should be there. Sideways parking must be handled properly and necessary tow-away arrangements should be made. Traffic problems must be highlighted before the people to create more awareness.
Jasneet Singh Ludhiana
Designate dharna sites, use one side of road for protests
Frequent traffic snarls occur due to dharnas and on festivals. To check its intensity, the district authorities have fixed a plot on Chandigarh road to enable people hold demonstrations only there. But this will not solve the problem. One site in this big city is not enough. More such sites need to be fixed. More over, people have to be educated on holding demonstrations only at these fixed sites. This is easily said than done. People also need to be told that while demonstrating on roads, they should walk on just one side so that traffic keeps moving smoothly on the other half. Also, increasing the number of vehicles on the roads is another cause for this problem. Sharing of the vehicles by the users is one way to reduce congestion. During the functions, the role of the police increases and they have to play their role more efficiently.
Dr G Dev Kitchlu Nagar
Introduce technology to sort out mess
A comprehensive approach has to be followed for the smooth flow of traffic. For the main streets and highway traffic, intelligent transportation system (ITS), smart corridor signal technology and traffic signal synchronisation projects can be adopted. A budget of Rs 1,000 crore was approved to ease traffic in the year 2015. It needs to be planned and implemented timely. To ease city traffic, one should resort to car pooling , public transportation system, promotion of cycle and walk culture besides the zipper method.
Rishu Khera, Ludhiana
Traffic police should focus on work
To smoothen the flow of traffic, the police should be advised to clear traffic rather than distribute challans at peak hours. Strict action should be taken against the illegally parked vehicles. Weekly vegetable markets should have a designated place. Officers on duty should pay more attention to their work rather than whiling away their time in meaningless pursuits.
Tarun Sukhija, Ludhiana
Traffic can be managed, not controlled
Today, we can’t stop a person from buying his dream car on the ground that there is a huge traffic problem. In my view, traffic congestion can be overcome by laying better streets with no so called bandages of repair and maintenance. Also, traffic police should be diligent and the authorities should construct flyovers so that the passage of big vehicles can be made easy. Most importantly, traffic can be controlled and not reduced
Diksha Dhir
Plan ring road around Ludhiana
Whenever I drive, I see many people violating the rules resulting in accidents or brawls. People need to avoid this. If one changes, gradually the whole city will. Leave your anger back home and keep the traffic rules in mind. Also, the Municipal Corporation must make sure that heavy vehicles are not allowed in the city. Instead, a ring road can be built around Ludhiana.
Gursimar Kaur Middha
Traffic congestion threat to economic growth
Increasing congestion on urban roads presents a serious threat to the economic growth and liveability of our cities. As economic growth leads to increasing demand, an economy can ultimately become the victim of its own success because as congestion rises, it starts hampering growth. This is the most direct way in which transport will impact growth in a developed economy. Investing in public transport, cycling and walking helps take cars off the roads, keeps our cities moving and growing sustainably.
Pooja Goyal Anand Isher Senior Secondary School, Ahmedgarh
Quality of life is affected
Traffic congestion is arguably a big problem in the city. Congestion not only steals our time but also hurts us economically and reduces our quality of life. Besides, traffic snarls create air pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and burning of more fuel as vehicles cannot run efficiently. The number of hours residents spend stuck in traffic is a sheer wastage of time. Further, congestion begins when more vehicles try to use a road than it can accommodate. This can occur when vehicles cannot exit quickly enough to make way for others. In my view, different lanes for different types of vehicles should be marked on the roads. Drivers should be made to maintain lane discipline if we want to eradicate traffic congestion. For violators, penalty should be strict, mobile courts should be introduced to curb illegal parking, wrong overtaking, unfit vehicles besides illegal possession of structures on the roads. Furthermore, restricting routes for rickshaws and auto-rickshaws is the need of the hour. Such vehicles should not be allowed on all city routes. All this can help mitigate traffic jams.
Ravi Chander Garg Ludhiana
Rash drivers add to chaos
Due to the festive season, there is a heavy rush on the roads, particularly in the evening, when people throng the markets to buy household items. Traffic is terribly high on the roads and it becomes more chaotic because of some road users who try to overtake the other vehicles, endangering not only themselves but also the other road users. Recently, I visited Delhi where traffic is even more chaotic than in Ludhiana. But the policemen present on duty immediately took up positions to control the traffic in the middle of the road. But here in Ludhiana, the traffic policemen are hardly visible on the roads. The Administration should deploy more policemen so that the traffic problem is addressed and minimised.
Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana
Odd-even formula, one-way traffic surefire methods to solve mess
To ease traffic on the roads, a formula like the odd-even one, already tested in Delhi, should be tested in Ludhiana also. One of the common causes of traffic jams is the haphazard parking of vehicles along the roadside. If we can create sufficient parking space in the major markets, then we can deal with the traffic issue to some extent. Similarly, the introduction of one-way traffic in congested areas will curb traffic chaos.
Harnidh Singh, Ludhiana
Introduce efficient public transport
The best way to ease the flow of traffic is by introducing an efficient public transport system. Metro trains, if introduced, will be the best option. It will remove most other public transport from the roads and make them available for private vehicles. As it doesn’t look possible in the near future, we should have an improved intra-city bus network. Residents should be encouraged to use public transport and promote the use of car pooling. Also, because of the election year, the traffic police have stopped paying attention to controlling traffic. By now, the administration should have constructed parking lots near the commercial areas. The public has got no traffic sense. Residents try to take their vehicles as far as possible inside the commercial areas. Vehicles should be parked in the streets leading to commercial areas. At traffic light crossings, everyone tries to overtake the other, leading to chaos on the roads.
Dr PS Jassal, Ludhiana
Clamp down on traffic rule violators
A counselling session must be conducted for persons who do not follow rules. Heavy fine must be imposed on traffic rule violators, traffic officers must ensure a single line instead of two or three. Students and underage drivers must not be allowed to drive vehicles. Also, following one-way traffic can make life easy for the commuters and proper campaigns should be carried out so that motorists are aware of it.
Bipan Sethi Ahmedgarh
Change the way people think
In order to achieve development, one must start with simple things. Traffic jam is a problem that is faced by everybody in India. It should be eliminated, else its results can be devastating. For example, those who do not have a proper driving licence should be punished to help reduce traffic load. Underage drivers block the roads or are in a hurry. This should be checked. People also need to change the way they think.
Dishant Sethi Ahmedgarh
Educate drivers, introduce proper signage
Practically speaking, we all know that a majority of drivers in Ludhiana have got driving licences without any formal training or tests. Traffic snarls happen when drivers try to outmanoeuvre each other at an intersection and end up blocking each other’s way. Roads are meant to be shared with fellow citizens. A mass campaign to educate drivers about when to give way to others will definitely help. Introduction of all-way stops and stop signs on intersections, as prevalent in North America, would also help. Right now, the Ludhiana traffic police are doing a commendable job of managing traffic in this ever growing city. Amazingly, they have provided enough police personnel to manage traffic in every nook and corner.
Manraj Singh Mangat, Ludhiana
Cut use of vehicles where possible
Traffic jams lead to other difficulties such as road rage, increased stress level and noise pollution. It takes an hour or more to commute from one end of the city to the other due to traffic jams. Nonetheless, the problem is not insurmountable. So the joint steps of residents and traffic cops can curb this problem. Car pooling and inspiring individuals to use public transport are the best ways. Riding a bicycle is another good option. Introducing better traffic management system would help. Proper parking areas should be allocated. Two to three cops should be on duty to manage the traffic efficiently. Those who violate laws should be given strict punishment and their licences cancelled.
Amrit Kaur, Ludhiana
Heavy vehicles should not be allowed in city
Whenever I drive, I see many people violating the traffic rules, ultimately resulting in accidents or fights. People need to avoid all this. If one changes, gradually the whole city will. Keep your anger in check and the traffic rules. Also, the MC must make sure that heavy vehicles are not allowed in the city. Instead, a ring road can be built around Ludhiana.
Gursimar Kaur Middha, Ludhiana
Next Question
The outbreak of chikungunya and dengue has affected the entire city. The magnitude of the problem also exposed the false claim of the civic authorities and the Health Department. Waterlogging and open garbage dumps added to the problem. Do you think proactive steps, such as fogging, by the department could have helped mitigate the problem? Do campaigns such as Swachh Bharat exist on paper? Send your comments in not more than 70 words at ludhiana.feedback@gmail.com
