By: Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal: Daily commuters, particularly employees and students, in Central Kashmir Ganderbal district’s main town are facing immense hardships due to the frequent traffic jams in the area, appealing the concerned authorities to take steps to ensure smooth passage to the vehicular movement.
A group of commuters comprising employees and students said that authorities have failed to regulate traffic in the main town Ganderbal particularly from Beehama to Duderhama Chowk, saying that the situation is worsening with each passing day.
They also said that in the absence of proper traffic regulation, the vehicular movement frequently comes to standstill at the vital intersection on Beehama-Duderhama road.
“The local residents mostly keep the vehicles parked on the roads, leading to chaos and frequent traffic jams while the authorities are watching as mute spectators,” they said.
They said encroachers are randomly occupying footpaths, leaving no space for the movement of pedestrians and the moving vehicles even on the main streets of the town, thereby resulting in massive traffic jams.
The failure of the authorities to ensure smooth flow of traffic has evoked strong resentment from the commuters. “Frequent traffic jams have drastically affected our lives and business. The worst affected are the government employees and students who reach late to the offices and respective destinations,” she said.
Furthermore, the major roads in the town remain choked due to the heavy movement of vehicles after an increase in the number of private vehicles, they said, adding that the footpath encroached by people in the market is also a reason for traffic mess.
“We are looking for an adequate parking space in the town, which will put an end to the illegal parking and will help in reducing the traffic mess,” officials said. (KNO)
