Normal life was thrown out of gear in Baijnath on Monday as a massive traffic jam on the narrow Pathankot–Mandi National Highway left thousands of commuters stranded for a long time. The prolonged traffic jam caused severe inconvenience to schoolchildren, office-goers, tourists and locals throughout the day.
Queues of vehicles were witnessed on both sides of the highway, particularly near the main market and other narrow stretches of the town. School buses, private vehicles, trucks and Volvo buses remained stuck in the gridlock for hours, forcing many passengers to walk long distances to reach their destinations. Several students reportedly reached schools late, while daily commuters and employees also faced considerable hardship.
Passengers travelling in long-route buses complained that the traffic congestion had completely disrupted travel schedules. Tourists visiting the region were also seen struggling, with many expressing frustration over the poor traffic management system in the town. Emergency movement of vehicles was also affected due to the heavy congestion on the highway. Many tourists also missed their flights due to the congestion.
Local residents blamed the shortage of traffic police personnel for the worsening situation. In the absence of adequate traffic regulation, vehicles remained stranded at several bottleneck points, creating chaos and confusion on the busy highway. Residents alleged that despite frequent traffic problems in Baijnath, no permanent mechanism has been put in place to manage the growing vehicular pressure.
People of the area said the delay in the construction of a bypass has further multiplied problems. The existing highway passing through the congested town is too narrow to handle the increasing volume of traffic, particularly during peak hours and tourist seasons. Residents pointed out that heavy vehicles, tourist buses and local traffic all pass through the same narrow road, leading to recurring traffic jams almost every week.
Commuters and traders demanded immediate steps from the administration to improve traffic management and expedite the long-pending bypass project. They warned that unless permanent measures are taken soon, traffic congestion in Baijnath would continue to cause serious inconvenience to the public and negatively affect tourism and local business activities in the region.
