Diwali rush brings Jammu traffic to grinding halt

Stalls extended upto road, wrong parking created trouble: SSP Traffic

JAMMU: On the eve of Diwali festivity, the winter capital came under grinding halt as it witnessed heavy traffic jams due to wrong parking and eating up of road space illegally by the traders which resulted into great inconvenience to Jammuites who have came out along with their families for Diwali shopping.
Traffic snarls and horn honking were the routine of the day on all roads leading to various areas in the city and its outskirts. Though the traffic police were deployed, but they too were seemingly proved a failure to manage the traffic mess.
The main traffic chaos took place on JDA road leading to the Channi Himmat where lanes from both sides were clogged. Residents of the city, who were out for Diwali shopping or to exchange gifts with their friends and relatives, got stuck up in over kilometre-long traffic jams.
They were left with no other option but started opting lanes and bylanes to bypass the jamms which further congested the traffic.
Meanwhile, SSP Traffic Nisha Nathyal, when contacted admitted of Traffic chaos on the eve of Diwali but attributed it to the shopkeepers who had installed big stalls to showcase their products outside their shops.
"Two to five feet road were encroached upon by the shopkeepers, which was creating long traffic jams."
"We were not expecting traffic jam at Kujwani, Greater Kailash, Channi Himmat and Satwari areas," said SSP Traffic who personally was monitoring traffic at Gangyal Square while adding, "I rushed to the Kujwani area for streamlining traffic."
Further, she said, "Even the people without giving a second thought that one wrong parked vehicle will congest the traffic in narrow roads of city are usually seen parking their vehicles along road for shopping and this as expected compounded the problem."
She, however, maintained that adequate traffic management was put in the city.