Scattered construction material at Sanat Nagar junction poses risk of accidents to commuters

Srinagar, Dec 22: Scattered construction material beneath the junction of the newly inaugurated Sanat Nagar flyover poses a risk of accidents at the busy spot.

Commuters also decried the lack of traffic lights at the junction, leading to frequent gridlocks during peak hours.

“During peak hours, it becomes extremely dangerous to cross the junction. Vehicles coming from different directions of the junction have no clear signal to follow, and the construction debris reduces road space, posing arisk of accidents,” said Arshid Ahmad, a commuter.

Several commuters pointed out that the scattered material not only hampers smooth vehicular movement but also gives an ugly look to a junction. “This was supposed to be a landmark project. Instead, the underpass looks neglected and unsafe,” another commuter said.

They said the problem becomes more severe during night hours and foggy mornings, residents said, as low visibility increases the risk of accidents. Pedestrians, in particular, said that they feel vulnerable while crossing the junction amid fast-moving traffic and poor regulation. “There are no proper traffic lights, and crossing the road feels like risking one’s life,” said a local.

They said the concerns are not unfounded, as weeks back, multiple accidents were reported along that uptown stretch. Locals fear that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, more mishaps could occur.

Commuters have demanded immediate installation of traffic lights at the junction and increased deployment of traffic police personnel to manage the flow. For now, they say, only manual policing can prevent chaos, but even that is inadequate during heavy rush.

SSP Traffic City Srinagar, Ajaz Ahmad, said the authorities are aware of the issue. “We know that traffic lights are yet to be installed at the Sanat Nagar flyover junction. We will do everything within our jurisdiction to ensure that the matter is taken up with the concerned authorities,” he said.

The SSP said that the issue of dumped construction material would also be taken up with the concerned authorities. “Traffic police deployment along the Bypass and key junctions is being continuously reviewed. We are already deploying traffic cops at major junctions, and wherever required within the city, we will ensure additional deployment to regulate traffic and enhance safety,” he said.