Tuesday, 21 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Residents of Rajpur Road who live along the stretch from Mussoorie Diversion to old Rajpur Road have expressed their concern over the increased traffic, particularly during the weekends. The rush of tourists to Mussoorie on the weekend and the increased traffic of visitors to this destination with the start of the Char Dham Yatra are posing issues for residents of this area. They claimed that the living environment in the Rajpur Road area has been significantly impacted by the increased traffic and disruptive activities of commuters, adversely affecting local residents. The residents of Rajpur Road urged the administration to restrict heavy traffic diversion in the area during weekends.
Virat Pahwa, who owns an automobile shop in the Rajpur Road area, said that during weekends, increased traffic can be observed in the Rajpur Road area as compared to other areas of the city. He said that in addition to the traffic, the visitors play loud music and litter which spoils the condition of Rajpur Road and affects the living atmosphere and health of local residents.
A senior citizen living in the old Rajpur Road area Sunita Bindra stated, “The increased traffic has greatly affected elderly people like me. Due to the increased traffic, especially on weekends, we are unable to go for a walk.” She also expressed concern that the tourist season, with visitors heading to Mussoorie and other areas, will further disrupt their evening walks and lead to noise and air pollution. She further added that the administration must consider diverting heavy traffic to other areas instead of Rajpur Road. For safety reasons, especially during the tourist season, the police administration must increase patrolling in the Rajpur Road area, she said.
The founding president of the Rajpur Community Initiative, Reenu Paul stated that the increased traffic has led to the police administration diverting heavy traffic, especially in the Rajpur Road area. Local residents have been expressing concerns about the increased traffic and the nuisance they suffer during the tourist season for many years, but the authorities have not taken any action so far. Further, she highlighted that half of the people in the Rajpur Road area are senior citizens, mostly affected by the increased traffic. She suggested that the police and administration should look into diverting heavy traffic during weekends. Additionally, the government should consider limiting the number of tourists in the city, as the increased traffic not only causes chaos but also affects the people, she said.
