Jhalana Bypass and adjacent areas, including Jawahar Nagar and Burmese Colony, are grappling with increased traffic congestion following a state government decision to relocate the Narayan Singh Circle bus stand to Transport Nagar.Jhalana Bypass Overcrowded as Jaipur Shifts Bus Stands
This move, while aimed at improving transportation infrastructure, has inadvertently caused significant disruption in the already bustling areas around Jhalana Bypass, with the road becoming increasingly congested due to a surge in vehicles.
Since the change in bus stand locations, vehicles traveling from the newly designated bus terminals on Delhi Road and Agra Road are now using Jhalana Bypass to navigate towards key intersections like the Pink City Mall junction and Govind Marg. According to local residents, the increase in traffic has been particularly noticeable since Tuesday afternoon, with vehicles from both bus stands heavily relying on the Jhalana Bypass, leading to gridlock on the stretch between Jawahar Circle and the Santi Path Crossing.
The situation has left residents like those from Burmese Colony frustrated, as their daily commute has become increasingly difficult. The traffic jams are particularly severe in the stretch closest to the Jawahar Circle, where buses and private vehicles are often seen at a standstill. A senior traffic official confirmed the intensification of traffic movement along the Jhalana Bypass, adding that the concerned departments are actively exploring solutions to alleviate the congestion.
The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had previously planned to construct an elevated road along this stretch to ease the traffic load, but the project was abandoned in 2023 after ₹5 crore was spent on the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The plan to widen the Jhalana Bypass remains a point of contention, as the JDA seeks to remove encroachments from nearby kacchi bastis in order to expand the road by another 40 feet. However, the project has faced political pushback, with local residents resisting any measures that might affect their homes. Despite discussions about road widening being on the table for over a decade, no government has successfully addressed the encroachment issue, according to local road safety organisations.
The delay in implementing a comprehensive solution has left many residents of the area concerned about the long-term impact on traffic flow, especially considering that the shifting of the bus stand was supposed to alleviate congestion in the first place. Instead, the redistribution of buses has created bottlenecks on a previously more manageable road network, adding to the city’s mounting traffic woes.
The local administration now faces the challenge of balancing the needs of commuters, residents, and business owners, all of whom are feeling the effects of this disruptive policy shift. While the relocation of the bus stand was intended to streamline Jaipur’s transportation system, it has highlighted deeper issues within the city’s urban planning, including the difficulty in managing rapidly increasing traffic and ensuring that public infrastructure keeps up with the growing population.
As the authorities search for viable solutions, residents are calling for urgent intervention to prevent further delays and to ensure that future urban developments are better planned to avoid similar disruptions. The government must now contend with the political and logistical hurdles that have hampered the progress of essential infrastructure projects, while also addressing the immediate concerns of Jaipur’s overwhelmed roads. The pressure on the Jhalana Bypass has served as a stark reminder of how urban policies, if not executed carefully, can inadvertently exacerbate the very problems they aim to solve.
Jhalana Bypass Overcrowded as Jaipur Shifts Bus Stands
