PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Locals have sounded concerned over worsening traffic congestion in Dehradun city, especially on weekends, following the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Notably, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the expressway, which has reduced travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to 2.5 hours.
The residents said that the shorter commute has led to a sharp rise in tourist footfall, resulting in longer traffic logjam on the city roads in weekends. “Traffic in the city was already bad. With travel time now reduced, the situation has worsened further. It forces locals like us to stay home on weekends,” said a local. They have urged the authorities to prepare a comprehensive traffic management plan to ensure that neither tourists nor residents suffer due to congestion.
A local resident, Vineeta Singh expressed her concerns about the deteriorating traffic conditions in Dehradun. She shared that during an outing with her family last weekend, what was meant to be a fun day turned into an ordeal as they spent 1.5 hours stuck in the road traffic.
She also urged the authorities to firm up a proper traffic management plan, stating that if no action is taken, conditions will only get worse.
Another local resident, Prem Yadav echoed the grievance and said that they were looking forward to the department to solve this problem through implementing an efficient traffic plan.
Another young resident, Shivam Goyal, said that with the increase in traffic, many locals, including himself, prefer to stay home on weekends rather than face the on-the- road- ordeal. “This is frustrating,” he added.
