Monster gridlock brings Zirakpur to a standstill

laxmi@tribune.com

Satinder Pal Singh 

Zirakpur, August 19 

Commuters in Zirakpur were stuck in a monster gridlock that lasted for more than an hour on Monday morning. Absence of traffic personnel on the road made the situation worse. 

As a result, an unruly atmosphere prevailed on Monday in Zirakpur as drivers rashly drove their vehicles ignoring traffic rules and safety of other road users and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, one of the daily commuters took to social media to share a video of commuters who were stuck in a jam and were unable to inch their way forward for hours.

In the absence of any traffic cop, a Punjab Roadways employee had to man the traffic on Zirakpur-Patiala intersection traffic lights since hundreds of vehicles were stuck in a gridlock. 

In a video that went viral on social media, a Punjab Roadways employee is seen managing the traffic. Monday morning witnessed chaotic traffic, as the city roads remained choked for more than an hour, as there was no policeman available to manage the traffic. 

Ambulances also remained stranded and were also seen struggling their way through serpentine queues. 

The Ambala-Chandigarh stretch was the worst hit with vehicles headed towards Delhi were caught in a traffic jam beginning from Zirakpur flyover till Zirakpur-Kalka intersection. It lasted for more than an hour, said sources. 

Despite the administration making efforts to ensure free traffic flow on the Chandigarh-Ambala section near Zirakpur, official rigmarole in solving the problem of traffic congestion has brought the situation to an alarming stage, resulting in unending queues of vehicles stranded in traffic jams on one of the busiest roads that caters to thousands of vehicle converging on it from different parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. 

Despite the construction of the flyovers and widening of the roads, Zirakpur is still struggling to deal with traffic chaos. On the other hand unauthorised parking of vehicles and poor traffic management are only adding to the inconvenience of commuters.  Traffic officials said the jam was witnessed due to heavy rain.

Commuters face harrowing time

Despite the construction of the flyovers and widening of the roads, Zirakpur is still struggling to deal with traffic chaos. On the other hand unauthorised parking of vehicles and poor traffic management are only adding to the inconvenience of commuters. Traffic officials said the jam was witnessed due to heavy rain.