Monday morning traffic jams choke city

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 16

Even as traffic snarls are a norm in the city, residents are complaining that jams get all the more worse on Mondays causing inconvenience to commuters.

According to residents, there has been no respite from traffic jams despite the closure of schools and Darbar move.

“We have become used to traffic jams, but on Mondays the situation gets worse. There are serpentine queues of vehicles at most places from the morning till the afternoon and at places including Rambagh and Jehangir Chowk, the traffic flow almost comes to a halt. Even the opening of Rambagh-Jehangir Chowk flyover has failed to address the problem. The government has to take some proactive steps, so that this issue can be tackled,” said Manzoor Bhat, a resident.

He regretted that traffic jams had not ended even in winter months. “We were hoping that after the Darbar Move to Jammu and starting of winter break for schools, there would be some respite from jams. However, there has been no improvement. In fact, schools mostly remained closed since August 5 (in view of abrogation of Article 370) and private buses too have not yet fully returned on roads. The situation could turn worse after the winter months, when schools and Darbar offices reopen,” Bhat said.

Rayees, a resident of Wanbal, said traffic on their route to the city centre was giving nightmares to them. “First, we face traffic jams due to the convoy movement from Rangreth to Rawalpora. Later, there is a massive jam at Sanatnagar Crossing especially during office hours. Monday mornings are worse. Then, passing through Jehangir Chowk is another challenge,” he said.

A traffic police official said they had deployed additional personnel to regulate traffic during peak hours. However, he blamed Monday morning jams for heavy rush of traffic from other districts to Srinagar city.