Traffic system in dismay in Jamshedpur, Mango and Jugsalai worst-hit areas

Snarls become regular affair 

Jamshedpur, April 22: Numerous commuters continue to face a harrowing time due to a traffic snarl which continued for about two hours from 10.30 am. The affected spots included the Mango bridge ( Jai Prakash Narayan Setu) , Dimna Road and  Subarnarekha Link Road ( or Old Court Road). The repair work of Mango bridge has added to the woes. Similar situation prevailed at Jugsalai railway crossing.

Meanwhile, a long queue of vehicles including trucks, cars and two-wheelers could be seen on either side of the bridge – at the Dimna Road at one end and Subarnarekha Link Road on the other besides the bridge. Traffic moved at a snail pace.

Many of the office goers had a trying time as they got stuck up in the jam. ” I reached my office half-an-hour late as I got stuck up in the jam,” said  Somnath Sen, an insurance agent who had gone to meet a client at Mango before going to his office in Sakchi. 

Long queue of two-wheelers and autos  was also seen at the old bridge where movement of trucks and other heavy vehicles have been banned. An ambulance carrying a patient was also stuck up in the snarl on the bridge for sometime. However, traffic cops present at the spot helped in providing safe passage to the ambulance.

 People defying traffic norms and constables watching them helplessly are a common occurrence that the capital city witnesses nowadays.

The prime city crossings where often huge rush is seen are Bistupur, Sakchi, Mango, Jugsalai, Burmamines. All city crossings are a site of complete disorder with vehicles piling up in long traffic jams.

According to information, with an increased number of vehicles plying on the roads, the traffic movement is getting clogged and the roads getting congested and causing serious inconvenience to the people.

The traffic problem is adding to the woes of road users with the congested roads, lack of parking places, poor traffic sense among road users, especially the auto rickshaw and mini buses.

Zebra crossing is another issue that needs consideration. People often stop their vehicle on zebra crossing. On request of anonymity a traffic constable at Sakchi says, “We often see people standing on zebra crossing but on asking them to move back they come up with several excuses”. He adds that even senior officials have not been instructed to do anything in this regard.

A section of commuters also blamed the traffic department for its inability to control the situation. “There would not have been such a chaos had there been traffic constables to manage the situation,” complained a commuter.  Traffic police were deployed to control the situation two hours after the jam began. A section of youths also volunteered in managing the traffic.

The pitiable condition of roads together with the uncontrolled street vendors adds to this heavy rush. “It becomes difficult for us to cross the busy roads due to the vehicles and uneven placement of street vendors. We make our way through the bikes. Even the traffic police do not seem to be concerned about it,” complains Shishir, a college student. A collective effort from the police and the citizens will certainly pave the way for a better traffic condition in the city.