Lying idle, barricades irk commuters on busy Chandigarh-Zirakpur highway

Barricades put up on both ends of the Chandigarh-Zirakpur national highway in front of a picket have turned commute into a nightmare for road users, who are calling upon the Chandigarh Traffic Police to remove them when not in use.

Commuters complain that the barricades serve no purpose and only create traffic snarls during peak hours in the morning and evening.

Even when there is no police checking, the barricades are left lying on, creating a bottleneck for vehicles coming down from the underpass. Many a times, two-wheeler riders lose their balance trying to maneuver around them while four wheelers hit each other in the melee.

“Barriers have been placed near the flyover at the Chandigarh entry point, and they seem to serve no effective purpose. Instead, they result in severe traffic congestion every morning, especially during office hours. This situation causes unnecessary delays and frustration for hundreds of people who are simply trying to reach their workplaces on time,” said Vineet Sharma, a daily commuter.

“It is a daily harassment for law-abiding citizens. The snarls end up reaching Hallomajra light points, said Niyati Rana, a Sector 30 resident.

UT has been conducting various survey and studies to decongest this stretch. Recently, a road widening was also done on the Chandigarh side but the problem persists,” added another commuter.

The locals have requested the Chandigarh Traffic Police to consider removing the barricades when not in use or find any alternative solution that does not disrupt the flow of traffic.