Srinagar, May 23: Rash driving has once again emerged as a serious threat across Srinagar city, raising concerns among residents and commuters who say the problem is spinning out of control due to lack of consistent enforcement.
Locals from various areas, including Bemina, Nowhatta, and Rajbagh, and other uptown and downtown areas said that rash driving, triple riding, and underage driving have become a daily menace.
They lamented that while previous crackdowns by traffic authorities had led to noticeable improvement, the momentum has since faded.
“During the last drive by the traffic police, you could really see the difference,” said Aamir Hussain, a student at Kashmir University. “The roads were more disciplined, and violations had visibly decreased. But now it’s back to chaos,”he said.
Residents report that violations such as triple riding, over-speeding, and wrong-side parking are being openly committed on key routes like MA Road, Residency Road, and the bypass stretches, leading to frequent congestion and endangering pedestrian safety.
Many had pinned hopes on the recently installed Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), which was expected to streamline urban mobility and curb traffic violations through automated surveillance and e-challaning. However, residents argue that the system’s impact has so far been underwhelming.
“When ITMS was introduced, we thought things would change. But drivers still flout rules and there’s little follow-up,” said Riyaz Ahmed, a local shopkeeper at Karan Nagar.
In response, a senior traffic police official told Rising Kashmir that enforcement teams are already on the ground and they are taking action on those found in traffic violations.
“We are aware of the violations and will intensify the crackdown across major routes. Public cooperation is crucial for lasting change,” he said.
