Flyover gives little respite from jams

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 6

The Rambagh-Jehangir Chowk flyover has failed to provide respite from traffic jams as commuters complain that the authorities have failed to broaden the connecting roads. The motorists say they are experiencing ‘total chaos’ during office hours and at times there is heavy jam even on the flyover.

“We waited for 10 long years for the flyover to get completely ready and we were made to believe that traffic woes on the 3-4 km long Rambagh-Jehnagir Chowk axis would get addressed. When vehicles were first allowed in August-September (2019) on the complete stretch of the flyover, Kashmir was reeling under lockdown post abrogation of Article 370. That time, one would cross the flyover in a jiffy. However, as traffic flow increased, we realised that traffic woes are the same,” said Adil Ahmad a local.

“There is total chaos during office hours as roads near the Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh areas are the same and have not been broadened. Even if we cross the flyover, we get caught in endless jams on the narrow connecting roads. In the mornings and evenings, we even experience heavy jams on the flyover itself,” he added.

Nazir Dar, a resident of Chanapora, said traffic jam had increased at Rambagh after flyover’s completion.

“While jams are there at the other ends of the flyover at Jehnagir Chowk and Barzulla Bridge, traffic comes to a halt at Rambagh. We feel jams have worsened now as the entire Rambagh road has not been broadened. What is the use of this flyover?” he said.

A traffic police official too blamed the ‘same’ connecting roads for the jams. “We have deployed additional personnel to regulate the traffic. Vehicles from Barzulla and Rambagh would reach Jehangir Chowk slowly but now the same reach at once. The connecting roads are the same. Where will the vehicles go?” he said.