Jagran correspondent, Agra. For tamping of Mantola drain under Namami Gange, vehicle traffic has been banned from Old Mandi Square to Shahjahan Park, only one way. The traffic arrangements with the diversion made from Friday proved to be a failure on the very first day.
Due to the traffic diverted from Purani Mandi to Mall Road and Takkar Road, the traffic load on all the alternative routes has increased by about 60 percent, due to which the speed of vehicles came to a halt and people had to wait for hours to get out. If the traffic system is not improved, then tourists along with shopkeepers and other pedestrians will have to face traffic jam every day on this route which will remain closed for one kilometer for a month.
Vehicles will not be able to go from Purani Mandi towards Shahjahan Park
Thousands of vehicles used to pass every day on this one kilometer road from Purani Mandi to Shahjahan Park, which will now pass through alternative routes. The traffic police has made Mall Road and Takkar Road an alternative route from Purani Mandi for a month from Friday. But there was already heavy traffic on these routes, the load on which has increased further. The traffic load on Mall Road has increased by 60 percent. Due to this, there was a traffic jam on the first day on Friday.
Road opened from Shahjahan Park towards Purani Mandi
Sewer work is also going on on Fatehabad Road, due to which the problem has doubled. This caused many problems to the pedestrians. The diversion made since afternoon caused delay to people in reaching offices, shopkeepers or work. It took additional time for tourists to reach the Taj Mahal and the fort, which also affected tourism. Local shopkeepers say that the number of customers decreased on the first day itself, because due to the closure of the road, a decrease in the number was seen.
Due to occupation of the footpath by shopkeepers, women and elderly people faced difficulty in walking as the alternative routes were long, bad and busy. The problem of jam increased due to increase in traffic load on alternative routes. Where earlier it used to take 15-20 minutes to cross the road, now it takes 45 minutes to an hour. The number of vehicles on Mall Road has increased by 60 percent, while there is 45 percent more traffic on Tajganj Road.
This is how improvement can happen
Since Old Mandi from Shahjahan Park is one way, there was jam at Old Mandi intersection, on the road coming from Taj View Point Tiraha towards Old Mandi, near Circuit House, on the road coming from Old Mandi towards Amar Hotel, near TDI Mall, near Hotel Clark Shiraz, near Commissionerate, on the road going from Agra Fort to Cremation Ground intersection. Its effect was visible till Tajganj, Fatehabad Road, Tajnagari, Rajpur Chungi. Due to it being one-way, there was traffic jam in all these areas. Due to which the pedestrians faced problems and had to wait for hours.
Pedestrians can get relief if encroachment is removed from footpath
The problem for the pedestrians has increased due to the closure of the road from Old Mandi Square to Shahjahan Park. In such a situation, footpath may be the only option for tourists. But due to the occupation of the pushers here, their movement is being affected.
Due to the diversion, it took one and a half hour by scooty to reach Agra Fort from Purani. If this situation continues on the first day itself, then all the shopkeepers and tourists will face more problems in a month. - Ram Lavania, Purani Mandi, there is already a lot of traffic here, now due to the closure of this road, the problem of pedestrians has increased. Earlier there was a straight path, now a long detour will have to be taken. - Rahul Gupta, more number of traffic police will have to be deployed to ensure that there is no jam on Old Mandi Vikaalpi Road. Due to which there will be no jam and traffic will flow smoothly. - There was so much traffic on Rohit, Old Mandi alternative route that people remained stuck in traffic jam for hours. Many people are going to face problems due to this problem for a month. Everyone will have to deal with traffic jams. - Rihan, Old Mandi My shop is near Old Mandi intersection. Due to the diversion, it took me an extra hour to reach the shop. Those who did not know the alternative route had to come via Avantibai intersection. - Kuldeep Shivhare, Old Mandi