Residents across Srinagar have been irked due to malfunctioning of traffic lights at key intersections of the city. This persistent issue has worsened the already chaotic traffic situation, making daily commutes more difficult and dangerous for both motorists and pedestrians.
Despite efforts to improve traffic management through the introduction of the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) under the Srinagar Smart City initiative, many traffic lights in areas such as Dalgate, Bemina, Qamarwari, Batamaloo, Jehangir Chowk, Hyderpora, Peerbagh, and Nowgam remain non-functional or perpetually malfunctioning. This leaves motorists and pedestrians uncertain about when it is safe to proceed, further contributing to the gridlock and confusion.
Several commuters have voiced concerns over increasing delays and near-miss accidents. “It becomes extremely risky to cross intersections where signals aren’t working. Every driver tries to rush through, and accidents are just waiting to happen,” said Zubair Lone, a daily commuter from Bemina. Tanveer, another commuter, highlighted, “These traffic lights are stuck on yellow all the time, making it hard for motorists to know when to go. I’ve seen several close calls where pedestrians were nearly hit by cars.”
Shahnawaz Malik, a resident of Nowgam, added, “Sometimes you stand at a junction for 5 to 10 minutes just trying to cross. Nobody knows who should move first. It’s a mess every day.”
Imran Rather, a commuter from Hyderpora, expressed frustration over the uncertainty caused by the non-functional signals: “It becomes a real issue when the traffic lights aren’t working. We don’t know whether it’s safe to move or not, and there’s always the fear of getting fined if we make a wrong move, even though it’s the signal’s fault.”
“This problem has only intensified confusion among commuters and worsened traffic jams,” one commuter remarked, urging for more traffic officers to be stationed at intersections with malfunctioning signals.
In response to these concerns, a senior official from the traffic department, requesting anonymity, acknowledged the issue but attributed the malfunctioning signals to technical faults. “We are aware of the problem and are working to resolve it. While repairs are being carried out, glitches in the system continue to affect functionality,” said the senior traffic officer. He added that efforts are underway to restore the signals and ensure that key junctions are fully operational soon.
“In the meantime, we have deployed traffic officers at critical intersections to manage the flow of traffic and reduce the risk of accidents,” the official further stated.
For now, commuters continue to face uncertainty and frustration as they navigate Srinagar’s chaotic intersections. While authorities work on repairs, residents remain hopeful that the ongoing efforts will bring much-needed relief and make the city’s roads safer for everyone.
