Three-wheelers create traffic snarls in Sirsa

For the past month, traffic in Sirsa has become a big problem. The traffic police are busy stopping two-wheelers and issuing challans (fine), but they are not looking at the real danger on roads, auto-rickshaws (three-wheelers).

There are now more than 5,000 three-wheelers plying in Sirsa. Many of them are rashly driven by drivers. They suddenly halt three-wheelers anywhere to pick up passengers, which causes accidents, especially when fast moving vehicles are coming from behind. People say the police are more focused on collecting fine rather than keeping roads safe in the city.

Sirsa residents say the police do morning parades or yoga and then spend rest of the day catching two-wheeler riders, while three- wheeler drivers break all rules and are not stopped. Many believe the police are not serious about real traffic problems in the city.

The worst area affected by such issues is near the Sirsa bus stand. Auto-rickshaw drivers block the road in front of the bus stand and fight among themselves to pick up passengers. They don’t care about other vehicles and create frequent traffic snarls. This area is always busy because it is near the government college and some hotels. When buses arrive, a crowd of auto drivers rushes inside bus stand and coerces passengers to sit in their vehicles, blocking the road and endangering others, especially vehicles coming from the Hisar side.

Locals have asked the new Sirsa police chief to visit the bus stand and see the problem himself. They want a police team to be stationed near bus stand throughout the day to stop this chaos.

Sandeep Goyal, a local resident, said people remember past traffic police officer, who managed the situation well. Even with a few staff, he brought discipline in the area, Goyal said. His team personally stood at the bus stand and once issued challans to 80 auto drivers in a day, teaching them to follow traffic rules, he said.

“Today, that kind of strong action is missing. Now, three-wheeler drivers freely break rules. This chaos puts everyone, including walkers, bikers and car drivers’ lives in danger,” Goyal said.

Another local resident Naman Arora said, “Sirsa’s traffic problem is not just about roads, it’s about law and order. If the police don’t control auto-rickshaws soon, accidents will happen and traffic snarls will only get worse. The city needs real action now, not just challans,” Arora said.