Anantnag, Nov 03 (KNO): Frequent traffic jams during morning and evening peak hours have become a major source of inconvenience for commuters in South Kashmir's Anantnag town.
People from different walks of life, including students, traders, employees, office-goers and professionals, informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that prolonged traffic snarls have become a routine affair, affecting their daily schedules and causing unnecessary delays in reaching workplaces, educational institutions and other destinations.
They said the situation is particularly troublesome at busy junctions and major roads, where heavy vehicular movement often leads to long queues, leaving commuters stranded for considerable periods.
They said despite the increasing number of vehicles and growing traffic pressure, the existing arrangements have failed to provide lasting relief to the public.
Locals have appealed to DIG Traffic, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, SSP Anantnag and DySP Traffic to take immediate measures to streamline vehicular movement, particularly during peak hours.
They said proper deployment of traffic personnel, effective regulation at busy junctions and strict enforcement of traffic rules could help ease the situation to some extent.
PEOPLE SEEK PARALLEL BRIDGE AT KHANABAL
Meanwhile, residents have also renewed their demand for the construction of a parallel bridge at Khanabal, describing it as a long-pending requirement to address the recurring traffic congestion at one of the busiest entry and exit points of Anantnag town.
The Khanabal bridge serves as a vital connecting point for commuters travelling between Anantnag and other parts of south Kashmir, including Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts.
However, the absence of an alternative bridge has placed enormous pressure on the existing structure, resulting in frequent traffic bottlenecks.
Locals said the volume of vehicular traffic has increased considerably over the years, but the infrastructure has not expanded accordingly, leaving the single bridge struggling to accommodate the growing rush.
"This stretch has become a daily headache for commuters. People lose valuable time in traffic jams, particularly during morning and evening hours. A parallel bridge is no longer an option but an urgent necessity," a local resident said.
Another commuter said ambulances, school buses, employees and traders are among those worst affected by the frequent congestion.
"Sometimes it takes several minutes, while on other occasions commuters remain stuck for much longer just to cross this stretch. The situation becomes particularly difficult when traffic from different directions converges at the bridge," he said.
Residents alleged that despite repeated demands over the years, the issue has not received the attention it deserves, leaving people to face the same difficulties every day.
Transporters and drivers also said the traffic congestion results in unnecessary fuel consumption, wastage of working hours and delays in reaching destinations.
They said construction of a parallel bridge would help distribute the vehicular load, improve connectivity and ensure smoother movement between different parts of south Kashmir.
Locals further pointed out that the Khanabal route also witnesses considerable traffic during the annual Amarnath Yatra, making additional infrastructure even more important to manage the seasonal rush alongside routine civilian traffic.
They said the growing number of vehicles and expanding population could further aggravate the situation if the issue is not addressed in time.
The residents have urged the elected representatives, particularly MLAs from the district, along with Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and other concerned authorities, to take up the matter on priority and initiate concrete steps for the construction of a parallel bridge at Khanabal.
They said a permanent solution to the traffic problem was necessary to ensure hassle-free movement for commuters and prevent the busy junction from remaining a daily source of hardship for the public—(KNO)