Traffic Chaos in Jaipur During Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

Jaipur: Traffic chaos ensued on selected city roads Wednesday as Jaipur celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with pomp and show.

There were traffic snarls on Govind Marg, Tonk Road, and Jhalana Bypass. The congestion was caused by the diversion of traffic from the stretch between Gandhi Circle and Trimurti Circle of JLN Marg to facilitate celebrations at the Moti Doongri Ganesh Temple . Vehicles on these stretches moved at a snail's pace almost throughout the day.

"Around 11 am, it took at least 30 minutes to cover the stretch between Tila Number and Jhalana Doongri of Jhalana Bypass. Normally, it barely takes 10 minutes to cover the stretch. With no divider on these stretches, often vehicles from both the flanks were covering the opposite flank and blocking the movements of vehicles coming from the opposite direction," stated Amit Nagpal, a regular commuter on this stretch.

Officials said the problem occurred as they were compelled to block one of the heavily congested stretches of the JLN Marg, that too on a working day. Only schools and educational institutions had been closed.

"The entire traffic volume on this stretch was diverted either through Jhalana Bypass or through the Tonk Road, resulting in traffic congestion on these two roads. We managed to control the situation to some extent on Tonk Road by diverting the big vehicles – except for city buses – through the Sahakar Marg – from the Laxmi Mandir Tiraha," stated a traffic official.

Meanwhile, Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated with much pomp and show across the city on Wednesday. While more than 2.5 lakh devotees visited the Moti Doongri temple and the fair on the adjacent JLN Marg and Takht Shahi Marg, there were a good number of footfalls even at other Ganesh temples across the city. Pujas also took place at the seven gates of the Walled City, a tradition continuing for centuries.