Prayagraj: Worsening traffic congestion in key parts of the city has emerged as a major administrative challenge, prompting authorities to take urgent action. Areas such as Chowk, Ghantaghar, Civil Lines and Lalla Chungi have been witnessing daily gridlocks, severely disrupting routine life of residents.Taking serious note of the situation, a meeting chaired by district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma was held in which it was decided that concrete steps would be taken within three days to ease traffic congestion across the city.The DM emphasised need for immediate ground-level action and directed the traffic inspector to convene a special meeting within three days with tempo and taxi unions, street vendors and concerned departments. The aim is to identify practical solutions for the most congested locations. Officials identified unorganised parking, roadside encroachments by vendors, and unregulated e-rickshaw movement as primary causes of traffic jams.In a major move, a joint team comprising officials from police, transport, and roadways departments, under supervision of the AM (city), will identify no-e-rickshaw zones, no-vehicle zones, and designated pedestrian areas. The administration is also preparing to enforce a complete ban on encroachment and parking near major intersections.To address structural issues, temporary land will be identified to relocate large hoardings and remove unorganised roadside structures, thereby reducing encroachment. Additionally, officials have been directed to reopen a closed road cut near Alopibagh Flyover within three days to ease traffic pressure in the area.Expressing concern over congestion outside schools, hospitals and marriage halls, Verma sought details of notices already issued to such establishments. He warned of strict legal action against those damaging dividers and railings, regardless of whether they are related to construction of hotels, petrol pumps, or banquet halls.Meanwhile, officials absent from the meeting will be served show-cause notices, underlining the administration’s seriousness in tackling the city’s traffic woes.
