Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10

After the construction of the Heritage Street in 2016, there is only a single road from the Brahambuta Market to Sultanwind Gate, from where four wheelers can reach the Golden Temple complex. The SGPC vehicles, Kar Sewa trucks and vehicles of devotees and residents lead to regular traffic jams in the area.

During the SAD-BJP tenure, the government constructed the Heritage Street to promote tourism by spending Rs 350 crore. The effort was highly appreciated by the visitors and tourists. But the vehicle-free Heritage Road increased the inconvenience of the residents of several localities around Golden Temple. The residents claimed that due to barricading on the Heritage Street, the traffic jams in small streets around the Golden Temple has become a routine affair.

GS Bedi, a resident, said, “There is only one road, which is just 20-feet wide, and is approachable to the Golden Temple from Sultanwind gate to Brahmbuta market or Guru Ramdas Sarai. This is the only road from where trucks of wood, grains and other items reach for the Guru Ram Das Langar Hall. This is the only road which is used by residents, Akali leaders, SGPC employees and tourists to reach Darbar sahib on cars and auto rickshaws. This street remains jam for full day due to chaos of traffic.”

During a visit, it has been observed that some turns are quite narrow from where only one vehicle can cross. Moreover, the open drains always pose risk of accidents.

Ramesh, a resident of Chowk Dholian, said, “Many times, cars get stuck in the drains. The traffic on this road has increased several times after the construction of the Heritage Street. Other small roads from Gurudwara Ramsar to Baba Sahib Chowk and from Chowk Katra Jaimal Singh to Guru Bazar and Ghanta Ghar are only for pedestrians, two wheelers and e-rickshaws to reach.”

The residents, who feel blessed for residing near the Darbar Sahib are facing inconvenience due to poor planning. The inner streets have become highly congested. Neither Akalis didn’t think about this problem nor Congress bothered to find some solution . But only residents and shopkeepers are suffering,” said Bedi.