Chaos on the roads

Srinagar—the sun-city is virtually at the edge of a colossalcollapse. The 2014 floods exposed all the tall claims of its managers. Cityroads and pedestrian paths are getting tighter with every passing day becauseof encroachments; drains are clogged with waste, especially the evil polythene.However, the worst part is its chaotic traffic system and the garbageall-around! Both the messy traffic and garbage require proper, honest, anddedicated management and exemplary public support. Unfortunately, we as thepublic are everything from religious zealots to bragging humanitarians, butwhen it comes to responsibilities and obligations, we craft a hundredjustifications to fail the city!

Thanks to the authorities for commissioning major part ofthe Jahangir Chowk Rambagh flyover for traffic after several deadlines. Thisproject during execution has severely disturbed the already worsening trafficsituation in the city. Several other ongoing infrastructure projects alsocreate hurdles in traffic, but this particular venture caused a lot of troubleand inconvenience on the most vital road connecting the airport and otherimportant destinations with the City Centre. The grade separator near RadioKashmir was also expected to ease the traffic situation in the vicinity ofAbdullah bridge and Residency road. But unfortunately, both these much-hypedtraffic infrastructure projects have not come up to the expectations of thepeople and in particular the travelers. Maybe these projects were inauguratedin a jiffy without proper synchronization with the existing road network orwere ill-conceived and messed up the way bridge over Jhelum near PresentationConvent School was mishandled.

   

Anyways, I am not here to mess up with Srinagar flyovers,bridges and infrastructure development agencies but to glance at ever-worseningtraffic system and our duties. Several factors influence the inefficiency ofour traffic system: the weak road network, encroachments, the responsibility oftraffic management agencies, and the behavior of the public. The magnitude andcondition of road infrastructures and situation of encroachments cannot bechanged overnight. However, the behavior of the people on roads and the levelof accountability among traffic management agencies can be managed to desiredstandards within a short period. Unfortunately, both the traffic authoritiesand the motorists while on the road behave recklessly and arrogantly. Incidentsof misbehavior on the part of both the public and traffic cops in the city havebecome a usual affair. Road rage and lawlessness is now part of traveling. Theother issue that has added to this worst scenario is the movement of VIPs. Forthe smooth and quick drive of VIPs very often the traffic cops close the wholetraffic flow and shutoff the traffic lights resulting in complete disorder.Interestingly, the cops just after the departure of the VIP from theirjurisdiction withdraw from the scene and leave the poor motorists andpedestrians at the mercy of confusion.

Other emerging trends that have added to the traffic problemin the city are unplanned shopping malls and departmental stores. Most of thesemultistoried business structures don’t have proper parking space forcing theshoppers to park their vehicles on the roadside. The few such worst awkwardshopping establishments are located in Jawahar Nagar, Sanat Nagar, Airport Roadand Residency Road in civil lines area. In city center off and on cops towawaythe wrongly parked vehicles but in other areas, such unauthorized parking isthe worst bottleneck for smooth traffic movement. Car and two-wheeler dealersin the city against all norms and civic rules use public space for parking andother activities. Most of the car dealers on Batmaloo Pantha Chowk bypass andtwo-wheeler dealers in Karan Nagar area have brazenly encroached upon theservice roads, pedestrian and other public facilities creating hurdles fortraffic movement.

Srinagar being the only city in the valley is absolute Powercenter and pivot of all activities. So most of the vehicles on city roads enterfrom other parts of the valley and create confusion. This situation can behandled by levying a special green-tax for entry of vehicles into the citybecause many people who otherwise can avoid getting vehicles into the town movearound the city for fun. This special green-tax can inculcate the sense ofresponsibility and encourage the city residents and the visitors to useeco-friendly public transport system. Proper zoning of the city based on intakecapacity of traffic can minimize the brute traffic and other footfall andultimately decongesting the traffic system. Creation of exclusive cycling andwalking areas [zones] will further ease out the traffic and avoid toxicvehicular emissions.

The authorities should come out with a comprehensive trafficmanagement plan that can cover both long-term and short-term measures. Andframe a traffic management authority in Srinagar city having absolute administrativeand legal powers to handle unruly traffic. As otherwise with massive trafficsnarls, we are not only losing a lot of precious working hours and fuel butadding gaseous death into environs of Srinagar to make city populations sick.The sooner we act better, it will be for this once historic city.

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