In a horrid traffic race, pedestrians the biggest losers in Gwalior city

Gwalior’s traffic is in a perpetual state of utter chaos, so persistent and unending that it has almost become a horrid way of life here. Most of the busy areas, penned in by surging pedestrians and hundreds of two, three and four wheelers competing for space are potential areas of disaster.

The problem is compounded by the growing status-symbol appeal of private cars among the middle and even lower middle class families that is adding tens of thousands of new vehicles every year.  The everyday struggle and effort of dodging traffic, rash drivers and disorderly pedestrians seems to be the biggest source of stress for the ordinary citizens of Gwalior.

Around 12 places in the city, including Maharaja Bada, Padav, Roxy Pool, Shinde Ke Chhawani, Hanuman Chauraha, Baradari Chauraha and railway station area continually witness unruly traffic, with constant honking and rash driving, making life miserable for all and sundry. There is no one to regulate the numerous roadside tea stalls, vegetable vendors and petty fruit and other shops that are pushing the pedestrians onto the congested roads.

The lack of basic public discipline coupled with the lackluster attitude of the administration, especially the traffic police has led to this sorry state of affairs. Broken-down signal lights of the city too are adding to the traffic woes. Out of the dozen odd traffic signal lights across the city some are dysfunctional while most have no timers thus causing chaos and inconvenience. Added to this is the absence of adequate traffic policemen or announcements in most areas to control the unruly drivers and pedestrians.

Talking to the media persons, Navneet Bhasin, the SP of Gwalior said that he will review the plans and arrangements that have been put in place to control the traffic. He added that in addition to traffic policemen, law and order policemen too will be deployed at all busy areas of city, especially during peak hours.