Bhopal Old City Chokes As Eid Shoppers Flood Markets, Traffic Gridlocks Worsen

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Old City areas are witnessing severe traffic congestion as Eid-ul-Fitr shopping reaches its peak. With no visible traffic management, residents are struggling with daily gridlocks, especially in the evenings.

Shoppers are flocking markets in Chowk Bazar, Lakherapura, Ibrahimpura, Talaiya, Budhwara, Jumerati Bazar, Laxmi Talkies and surrounding areas, causing a surge in vehicular movement.

Traffic slows down significantly from Hamidia Hospital to Moti Masjid, leading to bottlenecks at Ibrahimpura, Budhwara Crossing and Talaiya police station.

Similar chaos prevails in Jumerati Bazar and Itwara, with commuters finding it difficult to navigate through the packed streets. The primary reason for the congestion is the lack of proper parking facilities.

Shoppers park their vehicles haphazardly on roadsides, further worsening the situation. Local traders complain about the absence of traffic police at key junctions, stating that deploying officers at Moti Masjid, Budhwara Crossing and Talaiya police station could ease traffic movement. They also suggest that towing away vehicles parked improperly in market areas would help control the congestion.

Will ensure smooth vehicular movement: DCP traffic

Acknowledging the problem, DCP Traffic (North Zone) Basant Kumar Kaul said that cranes used for towing vehicles cannot enter the narrow lanes of Old City.

However, he assured that traffic personnel would be deployed and arrangements would be made to ensure smooth vehicular movement during the festive season.

Moreover, a joint operation with the municipal corporation will be launched soon to seize old and abandoned vehicles with expired registrations, further easing the traffic burden.