Amid rains, traffic jams pester commuters in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 02: Amid incessant rains coupled with traffic jams, commuters in various areas of the city faced a tough time today.

Various areas of Srinagar including Jehangir Chowk, Rambagh, Batamaloo, Budshah Chowk, and MA Road witnessed traffic jams.

Commuters said on traffic diversion on MA Road is one of the major reasons for traffic jams in city centre areas. Vehicles plying from Downtown towards Lal Chowk side are diverted to take a U-turn near J&K Bank headquarters. “This puts pressure on MA Road and results in massive traffic jams,” said Abdul Hamid, a commuter.

The commuters said that persistent traffic jams during peak hours in the last over week is taking a toll on them. They said during raids, the problem gets severe due to dilapidated roads and waterlogging.

“It has become usual for us to get stuck in traffic for hours. There is a huge issue of traffic diversions, and during rush hour, we get stuck in traffic jams for a long time. Amid rains, the situation is worse and dangerous, too. All the potholes are covered with waterlogging, and many times, vehicles get stuck in it, proving fatal to commuters,” said Altaf Ahmad, a commuter.

The commuters decried traffic jams in Downtown. They said that open manholes and dug-up roads pose huge risks amid rains in Old City. Commuters said that Srinagar Smart City Limited, R&B, and UEED have started simultaneous work in various areas adding to the traffic mess.

“The work has been going on at several places for the last two years now. There are no areas in Srinagar where some or the other work is not in progress. The dumped construction material and open manholes have become a death trap for us. These also create traffic bottlenecks,” said another commuter.

The commuters also decry the ill-planned work that has added to the traffic bottlenecks. They said that at places like Jahangir Chowk and other spots, a lot of space has been occupied by aesthetic work that has little to no practical use.

“Footpath reconstruction and other aesthetic works have squeezed already narrow roads in Downtown. Huge footpaths are in place, but they are not even being used. It also affects traffic flow, especially during peak hours,” Muneer Ahmad, another commuter, added.

A senior official from traffic police acknowledged the need for coordination in carrying out the work. He said that they are trying to ensure full coordination for a better flow of traffic.

“Several developmental works have been successfully completed, and it has given respite to traffic. We hope that the situation will be better in a month or two and these issues will be addressed. We are clearing the diversion wherever required and will continue to do so to give respite to commuters,” said the official.