DHARNAS NEAR GANJ CROSSING A PROBLEM

Though the Hazratganj crossing always remains busy, the jam here is not due to haphazard vehicular movement but because of frequent demonstrations that take place at Gandhi Pratima near the main crossing. Ironically, the government has already declared the Hazratganj crossing and the area opposite Vidhan Bhawan as a ‘no demonstration’ zone. The state government, in its order dated April 17, 2018, had declared Kanshi Ram Jan Suvidha Parisar and parking lot as Lucknow’s new and only official demonstration point. The declaration came after the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court took suo motu cognisance of the protest of BPEd candidates, who blocked the Vidhan Sabha Marg for three hours, causing traffic jams and inconvenience to commuters and school goers. Beside the protest, a bottleneck of traffic is also appears near the Allahabad bank building caused by narrowing of road. This also adds to traffic congestion at the crossing.

Many important crossings do not even have working traffic lights. This leads to commuters violating traffic rules.