Srinagar, 22-Dec; with authorities failing to streamline traffic in commercial hub Lal Chowk and other vital routes, commuters are facing tough time due to traffic jams for many hours.Traffic jams during peak hours are witnessed on vital routes including Lal Chowk-Jahangir chowk, junctions towards Natipora, Qamarwari and Sonwar route has become a norm. The problem is further compounded by closing down some of the important crossings and commuters are forced to take alternative roads.“Frequent traffic jams signify the failure of authorities to streamline the system as not a single traffic cop deployed to streamline the traffic during evening hours here ,” Shabir Ahmad, a daily commuter at Baba demb route alleged.He said that every evening he has to “waste” an hour in traffic jam on the barbar shah bridge to cover the distance which otherwise is covered within 10 minutes.”Travelling on city roads has become more of a time- and energy-consuming experience. At few places, a commuter has to spend twenty minutes to complete the distance of kilometer which otherwise is just five to seven minutes drive normally,” said a group of commuters at barbar Bridge.At busy Dalgate route, the commuters urged authorities to take necessary measures to avoid traffic jams.“Traffic jams during peak hours have now become a norm and authorities seem unmoved. The traffic jams have increased in absence of effective regulation of the traffic,” said a group of angry commuters at Dalgate junction.“Travelling on city roads has become more of a time-consuming experience. At few places, a commuter has to spend twenty minutes to complete the distance of one kilometer which otherwise is just two to three minutes drive normally,” said a group of commuters at Qamarwari.Attendants and visitors having patients at various Hospitals in the city said that they often find it difficult to reach the hospital on time.They added that the traffic jam being a routine affair in the morning and evening hours on the vital routes has become a norm.“Ambulances ferrying critical patients on most on the routes are also seen stuck in traffic jams,” said Mushtaq Ahmad of Eidgah.Meanwhile, commuters appealed to the concerned authorities and the district administration to look into the matter at an earliest so that they have heave a sigh of relief.(CNS)
