Monday, 04 April 2022 | PNS | Rishikesh
The rising number of tourists visiting Rishikesh is fuelling traffic congestion here especially during the weekends. Areas of the city including Lakshman Jhula Road, Tapovan and Shivpuri frequently witness traffic congestion exacerbated by arrivals of tourists and other factors. The locals are facing considerable inconvenience in their routine lives due to the deteriorating traffic situation in Rishikesh.
Owner of a rafting and camping business Gagan Maheshwari alleged that, “Despite there being adequate parking facilities, even the congested lanes are getting haphazard with vehicles, due to lack of proper traffic management.” He added, “The other day, I was in my car and it took me almost two hours to reach Lakshman Jhula Chowk from Tapovan which is hardly a distance of two kilometres.” He also averred that the rising traffic is “unreasonable” and despite the increase in tourist visits, the traffic is becoming a big hindrance in the workflow and business.
Another local and school teacher Shrilata Shrinivasan, who lives in the Ram Jhula area said, “Because of the traffic around this time of the year, daily commuters including school children and teachers face a lot of problems. People like us who don’t have anything to do with the tourism sector have to unnecessarily face its negative effects.” Locals are also complaining that it is becoming hard for them to get any public transport as most of them are being used by the tourists.
A traffic policeman on duty said, “March to July is the peak time for tourism and traffic in Rishikesh. It becomes very difficult to tackle these situations when sizeable queues of cars and auto rickshaws form up.” The tourism and traffic are expected to escalate with the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra in the first week of May.
