The prolonged failure of traffic signals across Jammu city has resulted in severe traffic congestion, causing daily inconveniences for commuters and raising serious concerns over urban traffic management. Most traffic lights installed under the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) remain non-functional for months, turning major intersections into choke points.
Prominent locations such as outside the Civil Secretariat, near Women College Parade, and Kachi Chawni Chowk face the brunt of this issue, with officials admitting that many signals have not functioned optimally since their installation. This malfunction leads to confusion and unregulated traffic movement.
The congestion situation worsens due to ongoing construction works at key junctures including Satwari Chowk, Kunjwani Chowk, and Narwal Road, which have reduced road capacity. An influx of additional vehicles due to the Darbar Move, the winter migration from Kashmir and Ladakh, and the current marriage season adds to the pressure on already congested roads.
In the absence of functional traffic signals, chaos reigns at intersections. Traffic police have to manually regulate movement, leading to significant delays for office-goers, students, and patients. Pedestrians often have no choice but to risk walking on carriageways due to encroached footpaths.
Officials reveal that encroachments by street vendors and illegal structures have narrowed road space, further aggravating congestion. Unregulated reharis have emerged as major bottlenecks in various markets and residential areas.
Commuters voice their frustration over increased fuel consumption and rising pollution levels as vehicles remain gridlocked for extended periods. Despite the dysfunctional signals, challan cameras continue to operate, resulting in resentment among motorists who feel penalised for circumstances beyond their control.
Traffic department officials assure that efforts are underway to assess the situation and deploy additional manpower at busy junctions. However, no specific timeline for the restoration of the traffic signal system has been provided.
Residents urge the district administration, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Smart City Limited, and the Traffic Police to take immediate action to restore traffic signals, clear encroachments, and streamline traffic flow throughout the city.
