Traffic snarls a norm at Singhpura junction

Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, February 17

The Singhpura area in the town is prone to traffic jams and the police have failed to tackle the problem. Chaos can be witnessed throughout the day in the area. The commuters passing through the Singhpura-Nagla intersection often stuck in traffic snarls and the situation worsens during the peak hours with an increase in the flow of traffic.

Though traffic congestion is a routine affair in the town, the problem near the McDonald outlet on the Ambala-Chandigarh stretch, right up to the Singhpura-Nagla intersection, and at the Zirakpur-Patiala traffic lights is precarious.

Inadequate parking lots, few traffic policemen for an effective handling of the situation, encroachments by shopkeepers and stopping of buses buses and auto-rickshaws at unauthorised places have compounded the problem.

The Singhpura-Nagla intersection has traffic lights, but these are non-functional and damaged.

“There is no parking arrangement at most commercial buildings. People often park their vehicles haphazardly on the roadside. It obstructs the flow of traffic,” said Rishav Kohli, a shopkeeper.

“Providing sufficient parking space is the need of the hour. Besides, the civic authorities must act against roadside vendors,” suggested Lal Singh, a local resident.

Deepinder Singh Dhillon, general secretary, PPCC, said the previous government did not plan anything when the flyover and ring roads were being constructed. I would take up the issue with the National Highway Authority of India again.

High mast lights non-functional

It seems safety of commuters is the least priority of the authorities concerned. High mast lights installed at the Singhpura light point have been lying non-functional for the past two and half years. Despite highlighting the issue in these columns earlier too, the authorities did not bother to repair the lights. Due to the non-availability of street lights, several accidents are reported at this junction.