Srinagar, Jun 16 (KNO): Frustrated commuters have raised serious concerns over worsening traffic congestion on the Pantha Chowk–Radio Kashmir corridor, describing the route as one of Srinagar’s most chaotic road stretches where vehicles often remain stranded for hours during peak periods.
Scores of motorists told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that despite the deployment of traffic police personnel at several junctions, the situation on the ground remains largely unchanged, with long queues of vehicles becoming a daily feature of the route.
“We leave our homes on time but still end up spending an hour or more trapped in traffic. The road has virtually turned into a parking lot,” said Wahid, a resident of Sonwar.
Zubair, another resident from Indra Nagar, Srinagar, said the daily traffic mess has become a source of stress and frustration for thousands of people. “Every day we witness the same scenes. Vehicles are stuck bumper-to-bumper, horns blare endlessly, and nobody seems to be in control of the situation,” he said.
Commuters alleged that lane indiscipline, random stoppages and poor traffic regulation are worsening congestion on the stretch.
“Traffic personnel are present at several locations, but commuters see little difference on the ground. If management were effective, people would not be spending hours on a road that should take only minutes to cross,” said Tawkeer, a resident of Batwara.
Many commuters further questioned why a long-term solution has not been implemented despite the corridor witnessing recurring traffic snarls for years.
Residents and motorists have urged authorities to consider a one-way traffic mechanism to streamline movement on the corridor. Several suggested allowing one-way movement from Dalgate towards Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station while regulating traffic from Radio Kashmir towards Ram Munshi Bagh through a separate route.
“If traffic flow is scientifically planned, these roads will stop choking every morning and evening. The problem is not the road alone, but it is the absence of proper management,” said Karman, a commuter from Pantha Chowk—(KNO)