Srinagar, Nov 26: Nearly a week after the ban on e-rickshaws along Srinagar’s two busiest stretches M.A. Road and Residency Road, the traffic congestion continues unabated during peak hours, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the move and the city’s traffic management system.
On Wednesday, around six days after the ban, long queues of vehicles choked both sides of the corridor near Women’s College Srinagar during the 3–4 PM rush hour.
Frustrated commuters continued to honk amid near-stationary traffic. Even as traffic police personnel remained deployed along both MA Road and Residency Road, vehicular movement struggled to stay regulated.
The traffic lights installed along MA Road and other key intersections remained largely non-functional, sometimes flickering erratically, sometimes with timers malfunctioning and often going completely dark. The much-hyped Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) also appeared ineffective, as no challan data has ever been made public since its installation.
Firdous Nazir, a commuter from Nishat and a student at Women’s College Srinagar, said they were told that banning e-rickshaws would ease traffic, but nothing has changed. “In fact, it seems worse now. Every day, we spend nearly 30–40 minutes just waiting for a Smart City bus and when it finally arrives, it’s overcrowded. It’s complete mismanagement,” he said.
Other commuters and students walking alongside him said that despite the deployment of traffic police, the malfunctioning of traffic lights and the lack of adequate public transport have rendered the measures ineffective.
“Smart City boards are visible everywhere, but what’s smart about spending 30 minutes on a 3-kilometre stretch?” asked a student. He said the traffic lights installed years ago barely function and ITMS cameras “are good for nothing,” as no challan data has ever been made public.
Students already hit by the e-rickshaw ban said the traffic mess has made commuting even more stressful. “If the goal was smooth movement, the results are the opposite,” said Shaista Mehraj, another student .
Residents also complained that the city’s lofty promises have remained confined to paperwork. “From Smart City projects to ITMS, everything looks good in press releases, but on the ground, it’s still the same old Srinagar,” said a motorist stuck in traffic near Pratap Park.
As peak-hour gridlocks persist, frustrated commuters are now asking: Where is the city really heading?—(KNO)
