Gridlock Grips Udham Singh Nagar: A Crisis on Wheels

In Udham Singh Nagar, a daily reality of slow-moving vehicles, incessant honking, and life-halting gridlock has become commonplace. Between January and November 2025, district police reported 258 fatalities from road accidents, a stark figure nearly seven times the number of murders, with an additional 391 individuals suffering serious injuries. This underscores a deepening road safety crisis plaguing the region.

Main roads, including former National Highways 87 and 74, are riddled with potholes and unauthorized cuts, making them perilous routes. Commuters face drastically extended travel times, with journeys that should take minutes now requiring nearly an hour of travel, often exacerbated by accidents or extensive jams.

Congestion is also severely impacting local economies. Traders in Rudrapur's city core report that traffic jams are actively harming business, with shops opening to horns rather than customers. The persistent smoke and noise create an oppressive atmosphere, with residents feeling the city is suffocating.

Similar severe traffic issues are reported in Kashipur and Khatima, where road repairs and persistent bottlenecks near transit points and markets cause day-long tailbacks. In smaller towns like Bazpur, Sitarganj, and Kichha, haphazard development and shrinking road widths further complicate travel.

Local MLA Shiv Arora has assured residents that a city bypass and a proposed ring road will be completed within the next four months, aiming to divert heavy vehicles and ease congestion. SSP Manikant Mishra also stated that traffic enforcement has been intensified in Rudrapur, Kashipur, and Khatima with dedicated teams targeting violations.