The prolonged failure of traffic signals across Jammu city has plunged commuters into daily gridlock, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of urban traffic management strategies. Most traffic lights installed as part of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) remain non-functional for months. This has transformed key intersections into frustrating choke points.
Several traffic signals at crucial locations, including the Civil Secretariat, Women College Parade, and Kachi Chawni Chowk, now stand either defunct or poorly aligned. City officials concede that many of these signals have not operated correctly since their installation, creating widespread confusion and unregulated traffic flow.
The congestion has further intensified due to ongoing construction works at major hubs like Satwari Chowk, Kunjwani Chowk, and along Narwal Road, which have notably reduced road capacity. This problem escalates with the influx of additional vehicles linked to the Darbar Move, winter migration from Kashmir and Ladakh, and the ongoing wedding season, which collectively heighten traffic pressure on already strained roads.
In the absence of functional traffic signals, intersections descend into chaos. Traffic police personnel often must manually direct vehicles, leading to frustrating delays for office-goers, students, and patients. Pedestrians frequently resort to walking on carriageways due to encroached footpaths, which poses additional safety risks.
Officials attribute significant road space narrowing to footpath encroachments by street vendors and illegal structures. Unregulated street vendors, known locally as reharis, emerge as considerable bottlenecks in various markets and residential neighborhoods.
Commuters express mounting frustration over increased fuel consumption and escalating pollution levels, as vehicles remain stuck in long traffic jams for extended periods. The sense of injustice deepens when unfunctional signals coincide with the operation of challan cameras, penalizing motorists for circumstances beyond their control.
Traffic department officials revealed they are actively assessing the situation and planning to deploy additional manpower at busy junctions. However, residents and commuters await a clear timeline for restoring the signal system.
Civilians have urged local authorities, including the Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Smart City Limited, and the Traffic Police, to take swift and decisive action. Immediate restoration of traffic signals, clearing of encroachments, and implementing a streamlined traffic flow system stand as pressing priorities for alleviating the ongoing gridlock in Jammu.
