The ongoing malfunction of traffic signals in Jammu has created severe daily gridlock for commuters, leading officials to rethink urban traffic management. Most signals installed under the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) remain non-functional, transforming key intersections into bottlenecks.
Prominent locations like the Civil Secretariat, Women College Parade, and Kachi Chawni Chowk suffer from defunct or poorly positioned signals, causing confusion and unregulated traffic movement. Local officials acknowledge that many traffic lights have not operated optimally since installation.
The situation’s gravity escalates with ongoing construction at Satwari Chowk and Kunjwani Chowk, jointly reducing road capacity. The influx of vehicles due to the Darbar Move, winter migration from Kashmir and Ladakh, and the ongoing wedding season further exacerbates the traffic situation.
Without functioning traffic signals, intersections frequently descend into chaos. Manual regulation by traffic police has become a common sight, resulting in regular delays for office-goers, students, and patients. Moreover, pedestrians often risk their safety by walking on carriageways due to encroached footpaths.
Street vendors have significantly encroached upon footpaths, narrowing road space and exacerbating congestion. Additionally, unregulated reharis have emerged as major impediments in markets and residential areas.
Commuters raise concerns over increased fuel consumption and worsening pollution levels as vehicles remain immobile for extended periods. While the signals fail to function, challan cameras continue to issue penalties, causing resentment among motorists who feel unfairly penalized.
Although traffic department officials state that assessments are underway to address the problem with additional manpower at busy junctions, they have not provided a timeline for restoring the malfunctioning traffic signal system.
Local residents have urged the district administration, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Smart City Limited, and the Traffic Police for immediate action to restore traffic signals, eliminate encroachments, and streamline traffic flow across the city.
