Kashmir Impulse Desk

Baramulla, April 4 

A new traffic diversion plan introduced on a trial basis in Baramulla has drawn mixed reactions from residents and commuters, with some reporting smoother movement in parts of the town and others complaining of fresh congestion.

District authorities said the plan, launched earlier this week, is being tested and could be implemented permanently if found effective.

Under the new arrangement, vehicles traveling toward Sopore or Srinagar are routed through Cement Bridge into the Old Town area before reconnecting to Civil Lines via Azad Gunj Bridge, and then proceeding toward the highway through R&B Road or the DC Office Road.

While officials said the diversion has eased traffic between Tehsil Road, Main Chowk and Urdu Bazar, commuters reported bottlenecks on other stretches, particularly R&B Road and the route between Tehsil Road and Kantbagh.

School buses were among the worst affected, with delays reported due to traffic jams in multiple areas.

Residents also pointed to poor road conditions as a contributing factor, especially along stretches from Khanpora to Kanispora, where damaged roads and narrowed carriageways have compounded congestion.

Additional traffic snarls were reported on Dewanbagh Road and sections of the highway following the changes.

Some local stakeholders criticised authorities for implementing the plan without prior consultation, saying broader engagement could have helped address concerns before rollout.

Officials said they are monitoring the situation and assessing the impact of the trial, even as commuters urged authorities to address congestion hotspots and infrastructure issues before making the plan permanent.