Even as heightened traffic police presence was witnessed at prominent intersections in the state capital, continuing traffic snarls underline the need for a more concerted effort to battle vehicular congestion.

Though traffic personnel stood guard at several intersections in the city, residents said that the traffic menace will continue until the District Administration pushes the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) to intensify efforts to initiate action against commercial establishments and vendors known for causing traffic snarls.

Residents who live in the vicinity of high-traffic areas in various parts of the city say that the administration's continuing reluctance to act against repeat offenders is worrying due to the constant threat the menace poses to their safety.

Though road-building activity and metro work are part of the problem, they assert that commercial establishments, pavement vendors, and handcarts add to the chaotic traffic situation.

Unfinished road construction that has been going on for months now also contributes by adding to traffic pressure, as motorists take alternate routes to avoid messy driving conditions.

Moti Masjid, a crucial link between the old and new quarters of the state capital, is a case in point, as already congested roads in the area have registered a considerable surge in vehicular traffic due to inexplicable delays in road construction on Hamidia Road.

"Commuters coming in from Berasia Road, who would have otherwise taken Hamidia Road to get to Jehangirabad and MP Nagar, now take this route to avoid road construction activity," says Mohd Anas, a 50-year-old who grew up in the vicinity of the 19th-century mosque. He says that the traffic in the area is at its worst ever.

Ahmed Faraz says traffic jams are a day-long problem, as the already bad situation is only worsened by faulty traffic lights in the area.

Abdul Samad, a college student, adds that many vehicles are parked on both sides of the roads near Iqbal Maidan, which increases congestion and makes it difficult for women to travel.

He says that he has to navigate through heavy traffic jams to get home from college every day.

Auto driver Mohammad Shakil agrees, saying that two-way traffic on the otherwise one-way street is one of the biggest issues in the area, which for some reason has been allowed to develop into a fruit market along the periphery of the historical Iqbal Maidan.

Shakil says that ambulances getting stuck in traffic is an everyday affair, as there is no way for the drivers to swerve out of their way.

One of the roads at this intersection leads to several crucial medical facilities in the old city, including Hamidia, Max Care, and Chirayu Hospitals.

A few metres ahead, the situation worsens as cars parked outside a landmark tea shop create a bottleneck on the way to Hamidia Hospital. The traffic chaos is caused by educated youngsters who remain oblivious to the suffering they cause fellow citizens.

At Prabhat Petrol Pump crossing, Yogesh Pandey points out that heavy traffic jams are a regular occurrence. People often jump traffic lights, worsening the situation and adding travel times for scores of office-goers who take this route every day.

At Anand Nagar intersection, Rambabu Sen, proprietor of a hair salon, says that rush hour traffic jams are an everyday occurrence. He laments that traffic congestion affects his business, as customers face difficulty getting to his shop.

Shashidhar Singh, who was once involved in a minor accident in the area, says that strict traffic control measures are necessary to prevent such incidents.

At Karond intersection, a large number of commuters blamed encroachments and ongoing metro construction work for the massive melee of vehicular traffic.

Dashrath Yadav says dust and dirt caused by metro construction work have now become a major issue on the road. Heavy traffic jams create a daily problem for locals.

Sunil, another local resident, says that encroachments on the road by shopkeepers and vendors and haphazard parking cause congestion in the area.

Even though the traffic police are directly responsible for vehicular congestion, it is time for the District Administration and the BMC to act against errant shopkeepers and vendors who allow customers to choke traffic on the streets.