Srinagar- As Tulip Garden continues to draw crowds of people, locals and tourists alike, Boulevard Road on Thursday witnessed massive traffic gridlocks. Traffic jams on the vital stretch left motorists both tourists and locals fuming.
With no end to gridlock in sight, many people visiting the famed garden abandoned their cabs and rickshaws midway and started walking on foot.
Ajaz Ahmad, a rickshaw driver who boarded passengers for Tulip Garden, regretted his decision midway as traffic moved at a snail’s pace.
“I am seeing a traffic jam of this magnitude for the first time, some days back I boarded passengers for Tulip garden but this wasn’t the case” Ajaz said.
He alleged the Administration had failed to get the Boulevard road widened and keep a check on condemned vehicles.
Ajaz said this was the last time he had boarded passengers for Tulip garden.
As commuters and tourists complained of erratic traffic jams on the vital stretch locals living in the vicinity also voiced similar views.
Ubair Altaf, who lives in Harwan said that every year when Tulip garden is thrown open the movement of vehicles increases” he said.
“As rush of visitors increases on holidays, we have made it a point not to venture out during holidays”. He added.
During the course of the day many people who flout the traffic norms were fined by the men in uniform.
SSP Traffic City Muzaffar Ahmad Shah who was overseeing his men decongesting the traffic said there are multiple reasons for the traffic jam on the Boulevard road.
He said the people are visiting Tulip Garden from every nook and corner of the state and even from other states.
“Apart from locals and tourists, school children from across the valley are visiting the garden in buses which is leading to gridlock”.
He said people are also getting together after two years of covid restrictions which is another factor adding to the traffic mess.
“Apart from other factors, the holy month of Ramadhan is approaching, which is another reason for the massive rush” he added.
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