8 months on, PU traffic mgmt committee yet to hold meeting

Akashdeep Virk

Chandigarh, July 18

Amid the chaos over parking and increasing traffic congestion on the Panjab University campus, the traffic management committee constituted by the authorities in August last year to deal with the issue, has not met after the last meeting held on November 9, 2023.

According to the information provided by the authorities concerned, various suggestions had been approved by the Vice-Chancellor in the last meeting, but it seems that no concrete action plan has been taken into consideration so far.

The suggestions include valet parking facility at gate no 1, assigning names to various parking areas, opening of the gate near the UILS, which was closed during militancy, widening of gate no. 2 and 3, ensuring proper lighting on the campus, vehicle stickers for employees and faculty (which has been started as per university authorities), entry for students only after I-card is furnished at the entrance and to ensure that vehicles are not parked on roads, thus blocking the same. To ensure implementation of the last proposal, the university does not have enough manpower, as claimed by a senior security official.

In September last year, the university had launched the much hyped ‘car-free’ Fridays, banning cars on campus on last Friday of each month. As the initiative could not be sustained, the authorities have given no directions on resuming the same in this academic session.

“The suggestions approved during the committee’s meeting are yet to be implemented. With the start of the new academic session, we are hopeful that we will be able to implement many of those on ground,” said Vikram Singh, Chief Security Officer, PU campus.