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Reckless driving turns Shalteng-Bemina bypass risky

  • RK News By RK News
  • Comments 0
  • 04 Oct 2025

M Haziq Pandit Srinagar, Oct 03: The Shalteng–Bemina bypass, one of the busiest and most vital traffic corridors in Srinagar, has turned into a perilous stretch for both motorists and pedestrians due to reckless driving. Despite traffic police presence, violations like wrong-side driving and over-speeding continue unabated, putting countless lives at risk. According to locals, wrong-side driving has become a routine problem at three critical points—near Shalteng, Fruit Mandi, and the Bemina flyover. Vehicles of all kinds, from cars and motorcycles to heavy load carriers, are frequently seen moving against the flow of traffic. This reckless behaviour forces oncoming vehicles to brake suddenly, often leading to near-miss collisions, while pedestrians are left scrambling for safety. Residents and commuters have voiced frustration over the lack of strict enforcement. Khurshid Ahmad, a regular commuter from Shalteng, said: “Every day, I witness cars and trucks speeding in both directions. Even when traffic police are present, these violations happen openly. Officers either turn a blind eye or wave vehicles through. It’s only a matter of time before an accident occurs.” The situation worsens during peak hours, when heavy traffic leaves little room for drivers to react, further increasing the risk of accidents. Shabir Malik, another commuter, said: “Peak hours are the worst. Cars and bikes come from every direction, and there’s barely space to maneuver. One wrong move could trigger a serious accident, and even careful drivers have to swerve to avoid collisions because others ignore traffic rules.” At Fruit Mandi, the situation is equally concerning, with commuters from nearby areas often taking the wrong side to save time. Aijaz Lone, who travels from Narbal to Bemina daily, said: “At Fruit Mandi, wrong-side driving has become routine. Drivers risk everything to save a few minutes, putting everyone else in danger. This reckless behavior has become so normalized that people barely notice it anymore.” The Bemina flyover stretch, too, has emerged as a hotspot for such violations. Residents say the situation is especially dangerous as schoolchildren navigate the area daily. Many argue that while infrastructure like flyovers and widened roads was meant to ease traffic, weak enforcement has rendered these measures ineffective. Zubair Bhat, a commuter, said that, “Rules are good only on paper if no one enforces them. Wrong-side driving not only puts violators at risk but also endangers innocent people." Responding to these concerns, a senior traffic police official, requesting anonymity, acknowledged the problem but pointed to limited manpower. “We are aware of the challenges on the Shalteng–Bemina corridor and conduct regular checks, issuing challans whenever violations are observed. However, with thousands of vehicles passing daily, it’s not always possible to station personnel at every critical point,” the official said. He added that wrong-side driving would not be tolerated and urged commuters to follow traffic rules. “This practice is extremely dangerous and can be life-threatening. We are working to strengthen enforcement and may deploy additional officers at key locations to ensure safer roads,” he said.

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