Traffic jams a norm at Dhakoli level crossing

Satinder Pal Singh
Dhakoli, October 21

There is a need for an underpass at the Dhakoli railway crossing as the Dhakoli road gets choked during the peak hours.

The stretch has become a major traffic bottleneck and things aggravate during rush hours in the evening. Long queues of vehicles put motorists, especially students and patients, to inconvenience.

Motorists, who are witness to regular traffic snarls at the Dhakoli manned level crossing, pass by without giving a thought daily. The level crossing remains closed for long duration daily as over 20 trains ply on the rail section. This spells chaos on the road. The situation worsens in the morning and evening hours, with traffic jams lasting up to over 20 minutes and even more. Absence of traffic cops at the level crossing aggravates the problems of the commuters.

Local residents have demand the construction of an underpass here as several accidents have been reported at this stretch. Traffic jams are a common occurrence here posing problems for residents, traders and commuters. The residents urged the concerned authorities to construct an underpass on a priority basis.

Raj Kumar, a shopkeeper said disputes among commuters are a common sight here as the road witnesses heavy traffic throughout the day. The volume of traffic is quite high as it is the main road connecting other parts of the city.

Charanjeet Singh, another resident of Dhakoli, said: “It is difficult to pass through the manned level crossing and I always try to avoid this road. The problem compounds here in the absence of traffic policemen”.

“The only viable solution to cope with frequent traffic snarls is the construction of an underpass. Hundreds of commuters remain stranded after the level crossing is closed,” said Dalbir Singh, another resident of Dhakoli.

On asking whether the civic body has written to the Railway authorities regarding an underpass recently, Zirakpur Municipal Council president Kulwinder Sohi said he would to check it first and tell the present status only on Monday as he was out of the city.

Situation worsens in morning, evening

The level crossing remains closed for long duration daily as over 20 trains ply on the rail section. This spells chaos on the road. The situation worsens in the morning and evening hours, with traffic jams lasting up to over 20 minutes and even more. Absence of traffic cops at the level crossing aggravates the problems of the commuters.