Traffic congestion plagues Panipat

Traffic congestion has become a major issue in Panipat, particularly on the NH-44 that passes through the city. While the district administration has proposed plans to ease traffic on this busy highway by transforming it into a model road and installing high-resolution CCTV surveillance, residents continue to face significant traffic jams on internal roads, especially during school hours.

The administration's plan focuses on decongesting NH-44, with the added proposal of covering key roads, parking areas and other critical points with CCTV cameras to monitor and improve traffic flow. However, areas such as Assandh Road, Jatal Road and other internal roads are major traffic bottlenecks, causing daily disruptions.

Notably, several spots in the city, including Ram Lal Chowk on Assandh Road, the main chowk near the Forest Department office, the Eight Marla Chowk on Jatal Road, Angel Mall in Sector 11/12 and near Ravindra Hospital in Model Town, have become notorious for traffic snarls. Sanoli Road also experiences heavy traffic congestion, further complicating the commute for residents.

Jitender Kumar, a resident of Friends Colony, highlighted the growing traffic problems in the city, noting that Panipat is a thriving business hub with hundreds of industries. While the district administration is focused on NH-44, Kumar urged authorities to address the traffic challenges on the internal roads as well. “The Assandh Road, Sanoli Road, Jatal Road and Gohana Road are always busy and traffic jams are a daily hassle, especially during school hours,” he said.

Gagan, a resident of Bhatia Colony, echoed these concerns, pointing out that while Assandh road had improved after construction, parking on both sides of the road had worsened the situation. “Shopkeepers and business owners have encroached on the roads and customers park their vehicles, leading to constant traffic jams,” he said.

Aakash Dilauri from Virat Nagar also pointed out that traffic jams on Assandh Road, from the Naka to Ram Lal Chowk, and at Eight Marla Chowk on Jatal Road, as well as Bhim Goda Chowk on Sanoli Road, have become routine. He stressed that the administration must identify these critical points and take necessary steps for smoother traffic movement.

As traffic congestion continues to affect the daily lives of Panipat’s residents, many are calling for immediate interventions to ease the burden on internal roads, in addition to the ongoing efforts on NH-44.