Srinagar, June 18: As if the mounting vehicular traffic coupled with narrow roads in Jammu and Kashmir were not enough, the movement of “Very Important Persons” and “security personnel“ is adding to traffic chaos and accidents, much to the annoyance of public and the cops on duty.
According to Trafficinfo 2010, the J&K Traffic Department’s annual publication, troops have erected barricades at several places, thus preventing the free flow of traffic. “To ensure full protection to their camps and locations, the troops had to perforce protrude on the roads, lanes and by lanes. They accordingly erect barricading on certain portion of roads, lanes and by-lanes. This has resulted in the artificial but, at times, permanent traffic blockades to prevent the free flow of traffic on these roads,” the Trafficinfo mentions. “The prevailing unpleasant security situation is also responsible for the present traffic malaise. With the onset of militancy, the security forces, in large

numbers, had to be eventually deployed in the valley of Kashmir. The troops carried along with them equally large number of vehicles for their effective mobilization. This additional motor transport has increased the already voluminous transport on the valley roads in general and Srinagar roads in particular.”
The Army convoys plying through the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and along the Srinagar-Jammu highway, is also a cause of frequent traffic jams. “Earlier we had asked the Army authorities to allow the convoy to ply after 5 PM, but they are plying as per their wish which is certainly hampering the smooth flow of traffic along the highway and city roads,” said a senior traffic police official. “The convoys can ply during the night also so that it doesn’t hamper the movement of passenger vehicles. Here in Srinagar, the convey moves at 3 pm which is the peak hour. It causes acute traffic jam near Bakshi Stadium. All passenger vehicles come to a grinding halt for hours together.”
The Traffic Department has lamented the movement of “very important persons” throughout the day, which has virtually frustrated the cops. “We have clear cut instructions to allow VIPs first. So we are helpless,” said a cop on duty at Regal Chowk here. “At times we have to close certain road intersections like Budshah Chowk and Regal Chowk to allow smooth flow of VIP vehicles. So it is a big problem. And then these vehicles ply too fast, which risks the lives of pedestrians. But there is nobody to penalize them, not to talk of bringing the violators to book. So all this adds to traffic chaos.”
The former inspector general of police (Traffic), Muhammad Amin Shah, has called for removal of troops’ barricades at places where the security situation has improved. “Steps can be taken to fully evict some of the barricades wherever security situation has improved and to reduce size of other barricades wherever security concern has lessened so that the impediments in the free flow of traffic are reduced to some extent,” he writes in the Trafficinfo.
After 9 PM, troops erect a barricade near Inayat Chowk (Ikhwan Chowk), risking the lives of drivers. One side of the main road is completely closed, forcing two-way traffic via a single lane. “Many times we saw accidents taking place because of this barricade, but there is nobody to tell troops that doing this is illegal,” said Ghulam Rasool, a shopkeeper at Inayat Chowk.
At several places, troops bring to halt the entire traffic while their vehicles move in or out from the camps. “We often see acute traffic jam near Hotel Kehkasahan at Nowpora because of this problem. Similar chaos can be seen near Shiraz Chowk at Khanyar,” Ghulam Rasool said.
According to officials, the “VIP syndrome” on JK roads could be easily tackled, provided the authorities mean business. “Installation of traffic lights is the only solution to curb this problem,” said a traffic official. “Traffic lights don’t know any VIP. So no cop would be forced to allow VIPs at the cost of locals. Unfortunately here even the kith and kin of VIPs are VIPs. So it is a big trouble.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST