Slow pace of work on Rambagh bund road leads to traffic jams

Srinagar, Nov 9: Slow pace of construction of the Rambagh bund has crippled the traffic movement on the vital Natipora-Chanapora stretch.

The road along the Doodhganga road goes along the bund that connects Rambagh and Natipora was closed around a month ago after one of its portions caved in. The commuters said that despite the route being a vital alternate entry and exit for hundreds of vehicles, the lingering work has created a traffic mess.

During peak hours, several areas including Barzulla, Natipora, Rambagh, Sanat Nagar and adjoining areas are crippled due to massive traffic jams. “This alternate route eased out the traffic to a great extent, and that is why we want that construction should be completed on

priority basis so that we don’t suffer,” said Abdul Hamid, a commuter.

A senior traffic police official, while acknowledging the issue, said that, as the alternate route along the bund will be operational, that will ease out the traffic mess in the area.

“Since the assembly was in the secession, there was already a huge traffic influx on these routes. Soon, the opening of the route will ease the traffic in Hyderpora, Pantha Chowk vicinity, Sanat Nagar, and other uptown areas. The commuters will not have to take long routes, which creates traffic bottlenecks at various junctions,” said the official.

Following the traffic mess on Rambagh Natipora, Srinagar traffic police said that work on a retaining wall along the bund is in progress and light motor vehicles will be allowed in the route within a week.

"Alternate Ram Bagh bund road is being repaired with retaining wall. Work is expected to be completed in a month and Light MVs to be allowed within a week. Kindly follow lane discipline and use the alternate Sanat Nagar route in an emergency," Srinagar traffic police said on X.

The commuters said that the traffic mess spills over to other routes, and traffic coming from and going towards the city centre faces traffic jams. They said that the issue has also hindered the movement of essential services like ambulances around the vicinity.

A concerned official said that the work on the project would be swiftly completed so that commuters would have no issues.

“A major portion of the work has been completed. We will ensure that the route is opened as soon as possible and commuters will not have to face traffic mess,” said an official.