Amritsar's Putlighar Chowk barricaded, people forced to travel more distance to reach destination

Amritsar, July 25

Permanent barricading alongside the median of the GT road at Putlighar Chowk is forcing people to travel extra distance to reach their destinations. The arrangements though have resolved the problem of frequent traffic jams which are now restricted to the point where people take U-turns which is another headache for residents.

If someone living on the stretch heading from the Putlighar road to Islamabad has to go towards Rani Ka Bagh, the barricading means that he would have to drive nearly one-and-a-half kilometres in the opposite direction after reaching Putlighar Chowk.

A person can take a U-turn near Khalsa College for Women from where he would again reach Putlighar Chowk and then drive towards Rani Ka Bagh. “After driving 3 km, a person again finds himself at Putlighar Chowk,” said Amanpreet Singh, a resident.

The same holds true for commuters coming from the Gwal Mandi side, who want to cross over to the road, heading towards Islamabad. They have to drive till Valmiki Chowk, take a U-turn and then come back again towards Putlighar Chowk.

This chowk is not the only place which has been completely barricaded to prevent traffic jams. Similar situation can be witnessed at Kacheri Chowk where commuters coming from the district courts are forced to turn towards Ranjit Avenue even if they have to go straight.

“Earlier, there used to be traffic jams at Kacheri Chowk. Now, the congestion has shifted to the point where people take a U-turn,” said Raman Kumar, a shopkeeper. Residents said in a Smart City, the traffic police ought to take smart decisions to regulate the flow of vehicles instead of merely shifting traffic bottlenecks from one point to other.