Peak-Hour Gridlock Grips Chandigarh's Key Junction
Commuters in Chandigarh faced severe traffic disruptions on Tuesday as ongoing re-carpeting work at the crucial Junction No. 26 led to extensive snarls during the morning rush. The intersection, which connects the vital sectors of 16, 17, 22, and 23, became a bottleneck, causing significant delays and frustration for those trying to navigate the diversions put in place by the authorities.
Official Advisory and On-Ground Reality
The Chandigarh Traffic Police had proactively announced the road repair schedule on the social media platform X, stating that the work would be carried out between November 5 and November 20. Despite this advance warning, the practical implementation on the ground led to considerable congestion. The traffic flow was particularly affected on routes leading to popular destinations like the Sector 22 market, the Sector 17 bus stand, and the link road towards Madhya Marg.
Although traffic personnel were deployed to manage the situation, their efforts could not prevent the build-up of vehicles, with congestion persisting for several hours. The lack of highly visible diversion signage was cited as a key contributor to the confusion among motorists.
Commuters and Businesses Bear the Brunt
The traffic chaos had a direct impact on the daily lives of residents and local commerce. Juginder Kaur, a resident of Sector 23 who was commuting towards the Post Graduate Institute (PGI), shared her ordeal. "The usually short stretch took nearly half an hour today," she said. "The diversion signage could have been more visible, as many motorists appeared uncertain about the route."
Local businesses also felt the pinch. Darhan Kaler, a shop owner in Sector 16, reported a noticeable decline in customer footfall. "Many customers contacted us to ask whether the road was accessible. A number of them decided to postpone their visit due to the traffic situation," Kaler explained, highlighting the economic ripple effect of the infrastructure work.
A Recurring Problem and Police Appeal
This is not an isolated incident for Chandigarh's commuters. The city witnessed similar disruptions back on November 10, when re-carpeting activity and the construction of tabletop pedestrian crossings on other key roads resulted in bottlenecks, particularly around roundabouts in Sectors 35, 36, and 43.
In light of the ongoing inconvenience, the traffic police have once again urged the public to cooperate. A traffic police officer reiterated that the work is essential for long-term road safety and improved commuting conditions. "Inconvenience caused is regretted; the work is essential to ensure long-term road safety and improved commuting conditions," the officer stated, while strongly advising commuters to plan their journeys and use alternative routes until the work concludes on November 20.
