Srinagar City has an estimated population of 13.5 Lakhs living in a total area of 294 Sq. kiilometres that is soon destined to be transformed into a futuristic Smart City under the 100 smart city project launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Though many appreciable changes are visible at various places in the city nowadays but still certain problems are too stubborn to get resolved that it requires extraordinary measures to eradicate them completely.
The nuisance of traffic jam in the city has been creating immense problem for the pedestrians and vehicle owners alike. During rainy days or festivals, the situation deteriorates resulting in long traffic jams.
Besides early and afternoon hours are mostly prone to traffic congestions because of office workers and school students flow.
To overcome this menace, the government constructed prestigious flyover from Jahangir Chowk to Baghat Barzulla in hopes that traffic jam will been put under control but alas the situation remains still dilapidated.
It was also believed that with the construction of new parking lots, the trade hub Lal Chowk and it’s peripheries will witness less congestion that will enable the shopkeepers to sell their products to prospective customers. However, the story remains same.
Even in press enclave Lal Chowk, the private vehicles are parked inside its premises in the manner of some car sale and that too when a full three-storey spacious parking space is only 20 meters away.
Traffick jams and congestion is Srinagar City is not just because of limited infrastructure but also our collective negligence and lack of parking ethics.
We need to shun selfishness and park our vehicles in a space that has been constructed for the same purpose so that our city looks beautiful and we don’t become a reason of annoyance to others.
