Traffic snarls have commuters fuming

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 16

It was a test of patience for commuters travelling from Zirakpur to Chandigarh as they were stuck in traffic snarls for over one hour this morning. The presence of the traffic police was of little help, leaving motorists fuming.

The traffic woes on the Zirakpur-Chandigarh road, one of the busiest in the city, have turned from bad to worse. Commuters travelling between the two cities spend at least 30 minutes from the Zirakpur entry point to reach up to the Poultry Farm roundabout, hardly a 4-km stretch.

However, the situation was worse this morning when motorists encountered traffic near the Zirakpur flyover. Serpentine queues left commuters helpless. It took motorists at least 55 minutes from the Zirakpur entry point to reach the Poultry Farm chowk ahead of the Hallo Majra light point.

Cops were seen manning the traffic at the Airport light point and the Hallo Majra light point, but they were of little help and failed to streamline the traffic.

Manpreet Singh, a motorist who was stuck in the traffic jam, said, “The problem needs to be addressed on priority. The traffic police should look for ways to deal with it.”

The traffic from Panchkula towards the Hallo Majra light point added to the chaos on the road. The stretch from the Sector 7/8/17/18 roundabout in Panchkula towards the Housing Board light point has been closed following which there is an additional burden on other routes leading to Chandigarh.

Hemant, another commuter who was rushing to the office, got late by over 45 minutes. Like him, many office-goers got late for work.

“The roads that are closed in Panchkula have forced people to take alternative routes, including one through the Hallo Majra light point,” said a police official.