Govind Sharma
Traffic Jams have become a headache for the commuters particularly students and office going people. Where ever we go, we have to waste a lot of time due to traffic congestion. No nook of the city and its outskirts whether it be Bus-stand area, Jewel Chowk, Ambphalla-Janipur Road and Canal Road, could be cited where people do not have to face traffic jams.
Several roads like Janipur-Bantalab Road, Jewel-Talab Tillo Road, Canal Road, and Road from Bus-stand to Satwari are of great importance for the citizens of Jammu but due to traffic jam which has become a routine matter on these roads, the citizens are suffering badly. Their valuable time and energy are being wasted unnecessarily due to traffic jams.
Traffic violations seem to have the root cause of this traffic disorder prevalent in Jammu city and its outskirts, which is a daily affair for Jammuites. From jumping signals to riding without helmets or talking on cell-phone while driving, the commuters flout every rule in the traffic book.
The second big reason of traffic chaos is parking vehicles at Road sides. Buses, cars, tempos, auto-rickshaws, bikes and other two-wheelers can be seen parked at no parking zone. Areas like bus-stand, Sabzi Mandi, Janipur Road, Jewel-Talab Tillo Road among others are the worst sufferers as these areas are usually crowded. Similar mismanagement can also be witnessed near bus stops or at dozen other locations.
Lack of traffic sense among the public is another reason for traffic jams.
Talking about traffic jam in the city and its outskirts, president, J&K Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JKJCCI), YV Sharma said there is no doubt that traffic problem is a burning issue, which is worsening day by day. Traffic problem at Janipur Road, he said is nothing new, people are facing this problem from last 10 years and now it is worsening with the passage of time. One can imagine what will be the status of traffic scenario on this road 10 years later, he said, adding Government should reveal what is its future plan to ease the traffic on city roads particularly on Janipur and Talab Tillo Roads.
He further alleged that most of our roads are narrow and do not have the capacity to face the increasing traffic. All these roads need to be widened to ease the traffic problem. He also suggested the Government to extend the Vikram Chowk- Gandhinagar flyover, which is under construction, upto Satwari Chowk. “It is better to extend the Vikram Chowk flyover upto Satwari instead of taking up another project after a few years, as it is a busy route and traffic is increasing day by day.”, he added.
According to Chairman, Federation of Industries, Anil Suri, haphazard parking on both sides of the roads is the main reason of the traffic congestion. “There is no doubt, most our roads are narrow and these need to be widened but the real problem is created by idle parking on both sides of the roads and police nakkas add to this problem, as these restrict free movement of the vehicles, which leads to traffic congestion”, he rued and added that police should choose appropriate place for laying nakkas to avoid traffic congestion.
Demanding immediate steps by the Government to resolve the nagging traffic jam in the city, he said “If something is not done soon, commuting will become a worse experience in a few years.”
He also laid importance on providing more alternative routes like the 4th Bridge on River Tawi, which could help ease the traffic. Though the traffic cops are patting their backs for penalizing a rising number of motorists each year, they have failed to instill basic road sense among them, which could have helped in easing the traffic chaos, he added.
Taking to the EXCELSIOR, some motorists said that they have to face inconvenience when they reach late at their destinations as traffic is not being regulated properly by the traffic wardens on several roads. Moreover, most of the traffic lights on Janipur-Bantalab Road are not working for quite long time, which also add to the woes of traffic commuters.
“I have to spend about two hours every day travelling to and fro my office at Gandhinagar,” said Punit Kotwal, a resident of Bantalab. “When there is no traffic, the journey usually takes 50 minutes.”
Nayan Bhatt, a student residing in Talab Tillo area said he usually gets late to his school in the city due to traffic jam on Talab Tillo Road and has to face punishment by the teacher concerned.
A number of passengers and commuters shared similar experiences with EXCELSIOR over the problems they were facing on a daily basis due to traffic jam, starting with the loss of valuable time. They alleged that the police only fine common man while VIPs are spared. They further said that most of the commercial establishments in the city like restaurants, cinema theatres and Government offices do not have adequate parking facilities, compelling the people to park their vehicles on roadside, which restricts free movement of vehicles. Similarly, the market areas where hundreds of people visit each day, shoppers are forced to park their vehicles on roads, they added.
Speaking on the burning issue, IG Traffic, Muneer Ahmed Khan said that due to rising population and increasing per capita income of the people, the vehicles are also increasing while the roads are same as were 10 years back; in that condition traffic congestion is natural.
“However, we have made enough arrangements to tackle traffic problem with whatever manpower we had with us. Traffic nakkas have been increased and those who are found violating traffic laws are penalized appropriately”, he said but regretted that motorists lack basic traffic sense, especially how and where to stop and park vehicles.
He also added that the citizens are reluctant to walk even for short distances and want to park their cars right in front of the doorstep of their destination. If they were willing to drive 50-100 metres on either side, they may find a proper parking place, he added.
On the issue of Traffic Lights, he said it is true that traffic lights are out of order at many places including Muthi Morh (near Janipur Police Station), Janipur Main Stop, High Court Chowk, Amphalla Chowk, etc. and we have apprised the Jammu Municipal Corporation about this, who is responsible for their maintenance.
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