Huzaif Riaz
The frequent hours long traffic jams have added to the problems faced by commuters traveling on various routes of Srinagar city. Traffic jams at Shalteng crossing have become source of inconvenience to the commuters travelling on the road.
Shalteng crossing that connects the Srinagar city with north Kashmir has become used to frequent traffic jams wasting hours of businessmen, students and patients. These traffic jams last for many hours making it difficult for businessmen and students to reach their destinations on time.
Large number of vehicles, including those carrying officials, businessmen and others get frequently stranded. The commuters say less deployment of traffic policemen on the crossing is responsible for the traffic mess.
“On daily basis, thousands of vehicles pass through the Shalteng crossing and this place is already known for huge traffic jams. There are some two to three traffic cops deployed on the crossing, it’s impossible for them to deal with this traffic mess.” said Shahid, a student to Kashmir Despatch who travels through the road on daily basis.
Saima, another student said,“ I almost everyday spend at least an hour in traffic jams in Shalteng and due to which I often miss my classes. In evening, the situation remains no better, due to which reach home very late.”
Sadiq, another commuter who has his business in Parimpora said, “Everyday I reach my shop late. I live in HMT, just 4 KM’s from my shop but it takes me more than 1 hour to reach my shop. Sometimes because of convoys and sometimes due to absence of traffic cops.”
A traffic official when contacted told Kashmir Despatch that we have already been informed about this issue and we are working hard to sort out it earliest sothat general public will not face more inconvenience. He said department is working round the clock for providing relief to the general public however it’s also responsibility of public to co-operate with us.
