Eid rush exposes Baramulla’s traffic, parking bottlenecks

Baramulla, Mar 20: The festive surge ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr has invigorated Baramulla’s main market, but inadequate traffic management has significantly marred the shopping experience for thousands of visitors.

Markets across the town have witnessed heavy footfall, with shoppers from various parts of the district thronging eateries, garment stores, bakeries and butcher shops in preparation for the festival. The usually busy commercial hub remained packed for several consecutive days.

However, the sharp rise in activity has also exposed longstanding infrastructural and traffic management gaps, leaving many visitors frustrated.

A majority of shoppers raised concerns over the lack of effective traffic regulation, particularly on the eve of Eid when congestion peaked.

“I came from Kanispora and had to park my car near the Boys Higher Secondary School as the road ahead was completely jammed. There was no way to move forward,” said Rameez Ahmad, who had visited the market with his family.

The absence of a centrally located parking facility has emerged as a key concern. At present, Baramulla largely depends on roadside parking, with only one designated paid parking area near Noor-ul-Huda Market.

Shoppers said the location of the facility adds to the problem, as commuters are forced to pass through already congested roads to access it.

“Anyone coming from Sangri or Khanpora has to cross the main market just to reach the paid parking at Noor-ul-Huda Market. It defeats the purpose,” said Ishrat Ahmad, a resident of Khanpora, who chose to park at the Khanpora bus stand and walk to the market.

Traffic congestion was most acute at the town’s main four-way junction, which remained choked throughout the day. The situation was further aggravated by mini-buses and light passenger vehicles using the area as informal stops for picking up and dropping off passengers, disrupting traffic flow.

In the absence of adequate parking infrastructure, even the cement bridge in the town was seen being used as an informal parking space, compounding the problem.

With no visible traffic management measures in place, vehicles remained stuck for extended periods, causing delays and inconvenience during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year.

“We fail to understand why proper traffic management was not put in place ahead of Eid, especially when the rush was expected,” said Umar Mehraj, who struggled to find parking near the cement bridge.

The situation has once again highlighted the urgent need for better urban planning, designated parking zones and proactive traffic regulation in Baramulla, particularly during peak commercial periods.