Having been given an option of bypass road, bus operators still prefer taking the highway route, adding to the traffic woes of local residents. The authorities seem to have failed to divert buses to their designated way.
Buses ferrying people to and fro Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Barnala, Sangrur, Muktsar, and Rajasthan need to take the Amritsar road via Lohara and Bughipura Chowks, but the authorities allow bus drivers to halt at the main chowk, Akalsar Chowk, and Kotkapura Bypass Chowk, which leads to traffic chaos on the main road of the city.
Bus operators have "ready excuses to reason" with the district administration.
"We have to allow buses to pass through the main highway instead of the Amritsar road-Bughipura bypass, as transporters say their route is decided by the state transport commissioner. If they take the bypass route, they say, they will have to travel 5-7 km extra. Travelling extra at a time when charges of diesel are being regularly increased, will be a venture of loss to them," said Arashdeep Singh Thind, Moga deputy commissioner (DC).
"The main reason for non-diversion of buses via bypass is heavy rush of passengers on the main chowk and a race to ferry maximum people. They don't get passengers on the way between the main chowk and Bughipura bypass. Even though the heavy rush has led to many accidents, nobody is taking heed of the situation," said former MLA Vijay Sathi.
{{/usCountry}}"The main reason for non-diversion of buses via bypass is heavy rush of passengers on the main chowk and a race to ferry maximum people. They don't get passengers on the way between the main chowk and Bughipura bypass. Even though the heavy rush has led to many accidents, nobody is taking heed of the situation," said former MLA Vijay Sathi.
{{/usCountry}}"Besides leading to chaos, accidents at and near the main chowk have made the city unsafe, but the authorities seem to be least bothered. Heavy traffic and poor parking management rule the city roads," said Ramesh Grover, president of Moga Bar Association.
Moga senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kanwaljit Singh Dhillon said: "We have deputed traffic cops outside the bus station at the main chowk. We do not allow bus operators to halt at the main chowk, but at a distance. However, I will ask the traffic control cell to look into the matter and the problem will be resolved soon."