In Lucknow? Spend the days braving scorcher, evenings in traffic torment

LUCKNOW: Traffic snarls have become a never-ending nightmare in Husainabad heritage zone, especially for those commuting during peak evening hours.
A TOI reality check on Sunday revealed that it takes almost an hour to cross a kilometre-long stretch from the Clock Tower to Teele Wali Masjid, courtesy haphazardly parked vehicles — mostly e-rickshaws — and encroachment by food vendors.
The congestion was extreme on June 5, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, when the crowd of revellers swamped monuments and parks in the area. While police were conspicuous by their absence, the cascading effect was felt up to Gautam Buddha Park, Chowk and Pakka Pul where traffic crawled at 10km per hour.
Girja Prasad (38), a bank employee on his way to a multiplex in Hazratganj with his family on Sunday, said the traffic on the route had been chaotic the whole week. “I had hoped for some reprieve on a Sunday. But, the situation is no better. I fear we will miss the beginning of the movie,” he rued.
Ambreen (25), who was riding a scooter with her mother on the pillion, squarely blamed e-rickshaws for the frequent bottlenecks. “The drivers stop wherever and whenever they want. Squeezing through a maze of three-wheelers can be trying and risky at times. It took us 10 minutes to just cross the road,” she said.
Chowk resident Junaid Khan (68) who had come to a park along with his grandchildren conceded that the traffic situation had worsened since Eid. “Since there is no designated parking lot, people leave vehicles on the road, leading to jams. The traffic situation is worst between 6pm and 10pm,” Khan said.
Sub-inspector Gyanesh Singh of Chowk thana said policemen had been deployed in adequate numbers to regularise parking and clear congestion.