Srinagar, Nov 13 (JKNS): Senior suprintendent of Police Traffic City Srinagar, Aijaz Ahmad, on Thursday said that despite the Darbar Move offices shifting to Jammu, the summer capital continues to witness severe traffic congestion, primarily due to the change in school and office timings.
While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, SSP Aijaz Ahmad as per news agency JKNS said, “Earlier, all school children used to reach their schools by 8 AM, but now the timing has been changed to 10 AM. Similarly, most office employees are also required to reach their workplaces by 10 AM, and they all get off duty around 4 PM.”
He said this overlap causes the entire traffic load to converge on M.A. Road and Residency Road, with vehicles from different directions entering the main artery, further increasing pressure on these stretches.
The SSP further explained that another factor contributing to the congestion is the shortening of daylight hours during autumn and winter. “Earlier, we had a three-hour operational window from 8 AM to 11 AM to manage traffic, but now it has been reduced to just two hours. Between 9 and 11 AM, everyone leaves their homes and tries to reach their destinations, leading to congestion,” he said.
“Similarly, in the evening, when earlier we had a three to four-hour window to manage traffic, now it has been reduced to around two hours. People start leaving offices between 3 and 4 PM and want to reach home by 5 or 6 PM, which adds to the congestion,” SSP Aijaz added.
Urging citizens to opt for public transport instead of private vehicles, the SSP said, “We are doing our best to ensure convenience for the public. Wherever we observe increased congestion, we deploy additional manpower. However, during winter, people tend to leave home late and return early, and with school timings and examinations overlapping, we understand the difficulties being faced.”
The SSP also appealed to citizens to avoid roadside parking, particularly along the Rambagh–Natipora stretch, which he described as one of the most problematic areas.
“To address this, we have diverted the traffic coming from Natipora through Doodhganga and then toward Rambagh. However, there is an issue of traffic interception near Rambagh as vehicles from the left tube intersect with those from the right tube, causing queues,” he said.
SSP Aijaz further stated that although there is no immediate solution, the issue has been raised with civil authorities. “Efforts are underway to route the traffic under the Barzulla Bridge. Once that work is completed, it will significantly ease congestion in the area,” he said. (JKNS)