Terrible traffic!

Amritsar is the only place in Punjab which proudly boasts of an international airport, international bus stand and international railway station. While the city witnesses a huge influx of tourists, the road infra seems under-equipped to handle the sea of vehicles entering the city. Tribune correspondent PK Jaiswar and lensman Vishal Kumar highlight the traffic woes of holy city.

Amritsar has always been a tourist hotspot with the Golden Temple and Beating the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost being major attractions. However, traffic bottlenecks have been a perennial problem for the city. Under the Smart City project, various developments projects were being carried out in this regard, but they seem more like misplaced priorities, than a solution to easing traffic in the city.

A handful of cops man the traffic, who become active only when any VIP or VVIP visits the city. Defunct traffic lights further add to the commuters’ misery.

The major intersections of the city where traffic jams are more prevalent are Hall Gate, bus stand, Lohgarh, Rambagh Chowk, Queens Road, Crystal Chowk, Batala Road Chowk near Government Dental College and Majitha road, especially near Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Railway Station, Sultanwind Gate, Chatiwind Chowk, outer circular road, near The Mall of Amritsar.

Rampant encroachments, illegal parking and haphazard parking of vehicles further compound the problem.