The prolonged failure of traffic signals across Jammu city has resulted in severe traffic congestion, causing daily inconvenience to 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.
Several signals installed at prominent locations, including outside the Civil Secretariat, near Women’s College Parade, and at Kachi Chawni Chowk, are either defunct or poorly positioned. Officials admit that many of these signals have not functioned optimally since their installation, leading to confusion and unregulated traffic movement.
The situation has worsened due to ongoing construction works at Satwari Chowk, Kunjwani Chowk, and along Narwal Road, which have reduced road capacity. The influx of additional vehicles owing to the Darbar Move, winter migration from Kashmir and Ladakh, and the ongoing marriage season has further added pressure on already congested roads.
In the absence of functional traffic signals, intersections frequently descend into chaos, forcing traffic police personnel to manually regulate movement. Office-goers, students, and patients have been facing regular delays, while pedestrians are compelled to walk on carriageways due to encroached footpaths.
Officials said that footpath encroachments by street vendors and illegal structures have significantly narrowed road space, aggravating congestion. Unregulated reharis have emerged as major bottlenecks in several markets and residential areas.
Commuters have also expressed concern over increased fuel consumption and rising pollution levels as vehicles remain stuck in long traffic jams for extended periods. Despite non-functional signals, challan cameras continue to operate, leading to resentment among motorists who claim they are penalised due to circumstances beyond their control.
Traffic department officials indicated that efforts are underway to assess the situation and deploy additional manpower at busy junctions. However, no timeline has been officially announced for the restoration of the traffic signal system.
Residents have urged the district administration, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu Smart City Limited, and the Traffic Police to take urgent steps to restore traffic signals, clear encroachments, and streamline traffic flow across the city. Such initiatives are crucial to alleviating the persistent gridlock and ensuring safe, efficient travel for all.
