Shopkeeper have installed stalls during the festive season by encroaching on busy roads, obstructing the movement of pedestrians and vehicles, leading to heavy traffic jams in the city.
The city is facing heavy traffic chaos these days. Most of the shopkeepers have encroached up to 5 feet road for installing stalls for displaying their products, which make the road narrower and create long traffic jams.
“The congested roads and encroachments by shopkeepers have made it difficult for the commuters to move on the roads. Going out for shopping in this festive season is like a nightmare. The long traffic jams finish the charm of shopping,” said Rajni Gupta, a homemaker at Janipur.
“Passing from New Plot is the most hectic part of going to the old city, as it takes about an hour to cross New Plot only. The road was already congested and now the products displayed by the shopkeepers outside shops are adding to the woes of the commuters,” she added.
The traffic police and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) seem to be least bothered, as no one is there to stop these shopkeepers from encroaching on the footpath, which should be used by the pedestrians only.
“Where do we walk?” is often the question asked by pedestrians who are now being forced to walk in the middle of the road.
Despite repeated calls, Mandeep Kour, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), could not be contacted for comments.
