Traffic Chaos in Srinagar: Encroachments and Mismanagement Under Fire

Traffic Chaos in Srinagar: Encroachments and Mismanagement Under Fire

Commuters Voice Frustration Over Encroachments, Mismanagement, and Infrastructure Gaps


Srinagar, 14 April 2025: Traffic Woes in the Summer Capital

Traffic congestion continues to plague the city of Srinagar, disrupting daily life for thousands of commuters, including students, government workers, and private employees. Persistent jams on vital routes have sparked widespread frustration, as people struggle to reach their destinations on time.

Key Challenges

  1. Encroachments Blocking Roads
    • Vendors occupying both sides of the roads in key areas like Batamaloo, Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, and Khayam Chowk are causing severe traffic obstructions.
    • Commuters have urged the Traffic Police and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to address this growing issue.
  2. Ill-Planned Movement of Smart City Buses
    • The Srinagar Smart City buses, due to the lack of designated bus stops, are adding to the chaos. Multiple buses often stop at one location, hindering the smooth flow of traffic.
    • Authorities have been criticized for simultaneously disallowing cabs into the city while mismanaging the Smart City bus system.
  3. Non-Functional Traffic Lights
    • Commuters blame the absence of functional traffic lights in city center areas for worsening the congestion. The lack of regulation has led to uncoordinated vehicle movement, compounding the problem.
  4. Wrongly Parked Vehicles
    • Illegal parking on vital roads has further contributed to the gridlock, blocking essential routes and delaying the movement of emergency vehicles.

Authorities Respond

SSP Traffic Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, acknowledged the challenges, attributing some of the congestion to an influx of visitors. “In the last three weeks, only the Tulip Garden has attracted over 5 lakh visitors, adding to the traffic jams,” he said.

Shah emphasized that the Traffic Police are actively addressing encroachment issues, having conducted anti-encroachment drives in areas like Soura and Hazratbal. He also mentioned coordinating with concerned officials to streamline the flow of Smart City buses and expressed hope for cooperation from other departments.

Despite these measures, commuters argue that the progress remains inadequate, calling for immediate, comprehensive solutions to the city’s traffic problems.

Looking Ahead

Addressing Srinagar’s traffic woes will require a multi-faceted approach, combining stricter enforcement of parking regulations, sustained anti-encroachment efforts, improved public transport planning, and functional infrastructure. Without swift action, the city risks further disruption, impacting both residents and the economy.

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