Chaos at Key Intersections
Unauthorised road cuts and the absence of traffic signals at several busy intersections have become a major reason for traffic congestion across Ludhiana, with residents demanding immediate intervention by the Municipal Corporation and the traffic police. One of the worst-affected locations is the J Block intersection in BRS Nagar near the Lodhi Club underpass, where commuters face long traffic snarls every evening. Residents said vehicles coming from multiple directions enter the intersection simultaneously, resulting in chaos and long queues during peak hours.
Bottleneck Near Dugri Police Station
Another major bottleneck is the intersection near the Dugri police station, where the lack of traffic regulation often leads to congestion, especially during office closing hours. Motorists said vehicles remain stuck for several minutes as there is no proper traffic management at the junction.
Widespread Problems Across City
Residents said similar problems are being witnessed at several other locations, including Kakowal Road, Shivpuri, Madhopuri, Field Ganj, Haibowal and other busy stretches where unnecessary road cuts have been created over the years. According to commuters, these openings allow vehicles to take sudden turns or move in the wrong direction, disrupting traffic flow and increasing the chances of accidents.
Road Cuts Become Bottlenecks
People alleged that instead of improving connectivity, many of these road cuts have become traffic bottlenecks. During evening rush hours, motorists often ignore lane discipline while trying to cross through these openings, creating confusion and resulting in long traffic jams.
Extra Time Lost Daily
Daily commuters said they spend an extra 15 to 30 minutes on several stretches due to poor traffic management. They claimed that the situation worsens during weekends and school closing hours when traffic volume is at its peak.
Demand for Survey and Closures
Residents have urged the Municipal Corporation to conduct a survey of all unnecessary road cuts and permanently close those that are no longer required. They said only essential openings should remain after proper traffic assessment.
Installation of Traffic Signals Urged
Besides closing unwanted cuts, residents have demanded the installation of traffic signals at busy intersections where traffic volume has increased significantly over the years. They also suggested deploying traffic police personnel during morning and evening peak hours till permanent traffic management measures are put in place.
Safety Concerns Rise
Several residents pointed out that in the absence of traffic lights, motorists often rely on guesswork to cross intersections, leading to frequent near-miss incidents. They said proper signalling would not only improve traffic movement but also reduce the risk of accidents.
Expert Recommendations
Traffic experts believe that junction improvements, scientifically planned road cuts, functioning traffic signals and better enforcement can significantly ease congestion on city roads.
Infrastructure Lag
Residents said the city's road network had expanded rapidly but traffic infrastructure had not kept pace. They urged the corporation and the traffic police to jointly identify congestion-prone intersections and take corrective measures before the situation worsens further. They maintained that closing unnecessary road cuts and installing traffic lights at major junctions would go a long way in ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving road safety across the city.
Superintending Engineer of the MC Sham Lal Gupta said: “I will ask officials to conduct a survey of unwanted cuts and also, if any more traffic lights are needed, the same will also be installed.”
