Traffic chaos mars festivities

LUDHIANA: During the ongoing festive season it seems the entire city is out on the roads, resulting in traffic jams everywhere. Though it is difficult to blame any particular department for it, residents are facing tough time, especially during evenings.
With markets booming due to huge rush, all inner bazaars of the city are packed with vehicles in absent of any controlling authority.The long queues of traffic could easily be spotted in every corner of the bazaars, thus creating long traffic jams. Owing to widespread illegal encroachments in inner bazaars like Chaura Bazaar, Gur Mandi, Butey Shah Mandi, Namak Mandi, Saraafan Bazaar, Chawal Bazaar, Talaab Mandir, Kitaab Bazaar and Pratap Bazaar, traffic congestion is visible every where.
Traffic congestion not only creates big problem for the commuters but it also poses grave threat to the life and property of shopkeepers as if any untoward incident takes place it would be very difficult to control it. Haunting memories of the fire mishap that took place in Gur Mandi when a large number of people had lost their lives and property as the fire fighting staff was not able to enter the market due to traffic congestion and illegal encroachments is a testimony to that.
But the most unfortunate thing is that in the wake of all these things, the MC and the administration has done nothing to control this menace. MC���s claims of removing the illegal encroachments have fell flat and likewise the civic body and the police have failed miserably to regulate traffic in the area.
Talking about it, Gaurav Sabharwal, a shopkeeper from Butey Shah Mandi, said that due to traffic congestion it sometimes takes more then an hour to move an inch forward in the bazaars but nobody is bothered about it. Similarly, Rohit Sood, another trader from Pindi Gali, said that authorities must pay attention to this grave problem due to which people are suffering.
When contacted, senior deputy mayor Praveen Bansal said the heavy rush is due the festive season, adding that they are monitoring the whole situation.