Frequent traffic jams take toll on commuters in Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 2: Failure of authorities to streamline traffic, coupled with encroachments of major roads by street vendors, is hampering vehicular movement and causing inconvenience to commuters.

In peak morning and evening hours, there is chaos on Srinagar’s roads due to traffic jams. Commuters said that they are forced to crawl inch by inch through the city’s narrow arteries due to traffic jams created by defunct traffic lights and diversions.

The problem is persistent from the Downtown to the Uptown areas. Maulana Azad Road-Budshah Chowk stretch has become a chronic spot for traffic jams, mainly due to mismanagement. At this spot, traffic lights are switched off and traffic is regulated manually, causing an imbalance in vehicular movement.

Commuters said that the worsening jams, particularly during school and office hours, have turned short commutes into a challenging task. "A journey that should take 30 minutes now easily takes over an hour. We spend a major part of our day stuck in traffic. The city is expanding, the number of vehicles has multiplied, but the roads remain the same narrow lanes," said Burhan Ahmad, a daily commuter from Downtown.

Commuters said that the problem is not limited to the increasing volume of vehicles but is compounded by outdated infrastructure and poor traffic management. They said that despite the much-hyped Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) installed a few years ago, commuters allege that many traffic lights remain non-functional or switched off for long periods.

"Most traffic lights either don’t work or are simply turned off. It confuses both drivers and pedestrians," said Farooq Ahmad, a shopkeeper at downtown.

They said the encroachments have further worsened the problem. Srinagarites say that in several parts of Downtown, especially areas like Nowhatta, Babademb, Bohri Kadal, Hari Singh High Street, Saira Balla and Saida Kadal, footpaths and roads are occupied by vendors and automobile dealers who use the roadside for displaying vehicles. They said the encroachments force pedestrians onto the roads, adding to the congestion and increasing accident risks. "Traders have turned roadsides into showrooms. Even walking has become dangerous," said Shahid, a resident of Khanyar.

“Now Matric exams will commence from Monday. Imagine if students miss the exams due to traffic jams. Traffic police need to gear up and streamline the vehicular movement. They switch traffic lights off just for their convenience,” said Abdul Hamid, a commuter.

Commuters said that unless authorities clear encroachments and shift vendors to designated vending zones, traffic chaos will remain unmanageable. They said roadside parking, too, remains a major contributor to bottlenecks. "Most roads in Srinagar are already narrow. When cars are parked on both sides, it leaves little space for movement," said a cab driver operating in the city center.

Residents said that the gridlock has also started taking a toll on essential services. They said ambulances ferrying patients to SKIMS Soura, the Valley’s main tertiary hospital, often get caught in jams along the already congested route. They said similar scenes unfold in Downtown where ambulances headed to private hospitals are stranded for crucial minutes. "In emergencies, these delays can cost lives," said a local.

When contacted, SSP Traffic City Srinagar, Ajaz Ahmad, said the department is monitoring the situation closely and taking steps to streamline vehicular movement. "At present, 56 traffic lights across 66 junctions are functional. The remaining will be operational by mid-November. During rush hours, if we follow the same light pattern throughout the day, it can worsen congestion. We adjust according to the real-time flow," he explained.

SSP Traffic acknowledged that the winter months pose additional challenges due to shorter daylight hours. "After sunset, people rush to reach home, which creates a narrow window of high pressure on roads. We are pressing more personnel on the ground, and the situation will ease in the coming weeks," he added.