J&K's Jam Jinx

As gridlocks choke daily life in Jammu and Srinagar, residents and experts call for smarter, people-centric traffic solutions over punitive systems.

- Khan Irshad

The twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir are always on the move. They are the administrative nerve centers, bustling markets, and gateways to some of the region's most sacred and scenic spots.

But these cities are slowing down, trapped in their own growing traffic mess.

Every day, long traffic jams stretch across Srinagar and Jammu. Patients, government workers, tourists, security forces, and students find themselves stranded for hours.

Even ambulances inch forward, stuck in the same lanes as wedding cars and school buses. Reaching on time has become a gamble.

One of the biggest mistakes, many say, was sealing key road crossings. The police hoped this would ease traffic, but it has made things worse.

With no choice but to take longer, more crowded routes, people now spend extra time and fuel just to get across the city.

Instead of shutting crossings, the authorities could have turned to digital systems to guide and regulate traffic more efficiently.

The problem runs deeper.