Srinagar, 24-Nov; 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 Abdullah 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.
