SRINAGAR: As the normal work resumed in government offices and markets following days of heavy snowfall Srinagar witnessed massive traffic jams on Monday.
The jamming was particularly witnessed during the peak hours in the morning and from late afternoon.
Even as the main roads have been cleared of the snow, heavy rush of traffic slowed down the movement of vehicles leading to jamming. The distance on some roads, which used to be covered in minutes, took over an hour. Commuters were caught in jams for hours in biting cold.
Major city roads including Batmalu- Jehangir Chowk stretch, Residency Road, Maulana Azad Road, Dalgate crossing, Nowpura-Nowhatta and beyond were clogged with traffic for hours.
While those heading towards Rawalpora, Budgam, Hyderpora and Channapora via Flyover heaved a sigh of relief but those moving towards Batamalu had to face problems at Civil Secretariat Crossing, Fire Services headquarter crossing, Karan Nagar and Bemina crossing.
The jamming was again witnessed ahead of Sanat Nagar Crossing with vehicles moving at snail’s pace.
The scenario was no different at Abdullah Bridge, where it took long for the drivers to cross the bridge to reach Raj Bagh. Reports of frequent traffic jamming were also received from some other areas of the city including Hawal.
There were reports of drivers of ambulances, carrying patients, facing tough times on roads due to jamming.
Traffic officials were seen trying to regulate the traffic movement amid heavy rush. But they seemed to find it difficult with roads not fully cleared of snow.
Vehicles parked on roads also caused traffic jamming. Traffic police had recently asked the people not to park their vehicles on roads and requested them to keep the vehicles in parking areas. The police had stated that the roads were cleared after snowfall only for movement of vehicles and not for parking. However many designated parking spaces remained closed as snow had not been cleared.
“The traffic jamming caused a lot of inconvenience to people today, Lot of time was wasted on roads. Traffic officials cannot be wholly blamed today for this jamming as snowfall too had its effects. The administration has cleared main roads but dumped it on sideways narrowing the road length,” said Waleed Mushtaq of Parraypora, a student.
A traffic official who did not wish to be named, said slowing down of traffic should not be misinterpreted as traffic jamming. He said it is a routine that during peak hours the rush of vehicles increases on roads.” We try our level best to manage the traffic but we do face difficulties at times. Snowfall added to our problems and we are trying to overcome the problems,” the cop said. He hoped that scenes on roads would improve in the coming days.
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