The stretch of road from Naaz Cinema to Lal Ded Hospital has become a daily battleground for commuters and motorists, plagued by the rampant encroachment of street vendors.
This persistent issue has led to prolonged traffic jams, causing significant inconvenience to those who traverse this route regularly.
Commuters have voiced their frustrations, highlighting the continuous encroachment by vendors as a major problem.
“As a daily commuter, it is a headache to navigate through this road. There is no end to this encroachment in sight. Not only footpaths, but vendors have set up their stalls on main roads too, creating bottlenecks. We are often stuck in traffic jams due to this issue,” lamented a bank employee.
The situation has not only affected the flow of traffic but also the local businesses. Traders in the area have reported a decline in customer footfall, attributing it to the obstruction caused by the vendors.
“It has affected the footfall of customers and our business. Shoppers don’t stop in front of our shops as there is no space to stop their vehicles and the entire area is occupied by the vendors. People also avoid it because they don’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam,” said a concerned shop owner.
Adding to the chaos is the issue of roadside parking, exacerbated by the lack of designated parking zones. This has further contributed to the traffic congestion, making the situation even more dire.
“We cannot blame the roadside vendors only. Yes, there is the issue of roadside vendors, but illegal parking on roads is equally responsible for traffic jams. The government should create special parking zones and vendor zones to address the issue,” suggested a local trader.
The authorities have been slow to act, despite numerous complaints from commuters and traders alike. The absence of designated vending zones has prompted street vendors to encroach upon various public areas in Srinagar, significantly disrupting both traffic flow and pedestrian movement1. Under the Smart City project, plans were made to relocate 6,000 street vendors to designated “smart vending zones,” but little progress has been made on the ground.
The encroachment of roads and footpaths has transformed bustling public spaces into congested marketplaces, severely impeding the free movement of people and vehicles. The situation is particularly dire in areas like Maharaja Bazar, where vendors extend their presence up to Lal Ded Hospital, leaving minimal room for pedestrians.
Officials from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have assured that concrete plans are in place to relocate vendors under the Smart City Project. However, the delay in implementation continues to frustrate the local populace. Until these plans come to fruition, the daily commute from Naaz Cinema to Lal Ded Hospital remains a daunting task for Srinagar’s residents.