Traffic congestion in Anantnag: Govt cites illegal parking, infrastructure constraints
Says Rs 26 Cr road upgrade proposal under review
Anantnag: The Government on Wednesday acknowledged persistent traffic congestion in key market areas of Anantnag district, stating that a combination of unauthorized parking, dense urban layout, and infrastructure limitations continues to cause inconvenience to the public.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister informed the House that traffic jams are frequently witnessed at Duked Bazar, Zirpora, and Srigufwara, especially during peak hours. The congestion, the Minister noted, affects daily commuters, including patients and students, leading to delays and public inconvenience.
The Minister explained that at Duked Bazar and Zirpora, the road stretches pass through densely populated commercial and residential zones where parking infrastructure is inadequate. “The primary reason for congestion in these areas is unauthorized roadside parking, which significantly reduces the carriageway width,” the reply stated.
Highlighting the challenges in addressing the issue, the Minister said that any proposal for road widening in these areas would require land acquisition and compensation, which is subject to formulation and approval of a detailed plan, as well as the availability of funds.
At Srigufwara, the Minister said traffic jams occur intermittently, mainly due to illegal parking practices. To address long-term concerns, a proposal for the widening and upgradation of the Bijbehara–Larnoo Road (from Km 5th to Km 15th) has been prepared under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for the financial year 2025–26, with an estimated cost of ₹26 crore. The proposal is currently under examination.
However, the Minister clarified that the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) or Preliminary Project Report (PPR) does not imply automatic approval of the project. “Sanctioning depends on the availability of financial resources, necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and completion of land acquisition processes,” the reply added.
In the meantime, the Government, in coordination with the Traffic Police and District Administration, has initiated several measures to manage congestion. These include regular deployment of traffic personnel at critical junctions during peak hours, enforcement drives against illegal parking and encroachments, issuance of challans to violators, and regulation of vehicular movement to streamline traffic flow.
The Minister further said that awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate the public on traffic discipline and the importance of proper parking practices, aimed at fostering long-term behavioral change and easing congestion in busy market areas.
