Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Mar 28: Angry residents, commuters, and local organizations today held a strong protest on Friday, demanding an immediate solution to the worsening traffic congestion caused by the diversion of vehicles through Maitra onto Jula Bridge.
The protest, led by Senior Congress Leader Advocate Fairoz Khan, was supported by various local groups, including the Auto Union, Beopar Mandal, Ramban Bar Association, and Students’ Union.
The protesters expressed anger over the ongoing traffic gridlocks, which have severely impacted daily life and local businesses over the past month.
Advocate Fairoz Khan criticized the authorities for their inaction, saying, “The people of Ramban have had enough. For the past month, we’ve been pleading for a solution, but all we get is indifference. This is not just an inconvenience, it’s a crisis that is affecting our economy and the safety of commuters. We demand immediate action to restore normal traffic flow.”
The protesters called for an end to the Maitra-to-Jula Bridge diversion, urgent infrastructure improvements, and a dialogue between the authorities and stakeholders to find long-term solutions.
They pointed out that despite the National Highway being narrow at one point-Mehar-traffic could still be managed without the diversion.
The ongoing congestion has caused long delays, affecting students, patients, and daily commuters.
Protesters also raised concerns about the high costs of road projects and the slow pace of construction, particularly of a new bridge.
In response to the protest, a meeting was held with local officials, including the ACR, DySP, Tehsildar, and traffic authorities.
It was decided that traffic would not be diverted through Maitra until after Eid, with only emergency vehicles allowed.
The protesters have called on the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and address the issue, stressing that Ramban deserves justice.
The protest was temporarily called off, but the organizers warned that further action would be taken if no permanent solution is reached.
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