Tourism has always remained the main source of revenue the city generates; needless to say that the city of lakes is highly dependent on tourists. Every year, in the start of winter season, the city witnesses a flood of both local and foreign tourists, and all hotels get packed with guests.

It is a high earning season for all those who are connected with the travel and tourism trade, which includes star grade hotels, restaurants, rickshaw and taxi drivers, restaurant owner and the widely spread handicraft business.

As the city is developing year by year, add-on in population of local residents is also affecting the overall infrastructure. The number of migrants is rising with more commercial houses and malls stood to turn the landscape into concrete jungle.

More people, more vehicles and high traffic is creating a menace for both locals and foreign tourists in Udaipur.

And on other side, the administration is feeling helpless in managing the situation of traffic jams occurring every now and then in different parts of the city, mainly in the old city areas, where roads are narrow, encroachment is common and traffic is heavy.

Besides, all the problems noted above, buses owned by private travel agencies are making the situation worse by entering the city in day time and stopping anywhere they want to, to pick or drop passengers.

Mahendra Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) knows the problem and also has suggestions to avoid the traffic situation, but how implementable it is, will be known only after a meeting that he is shortly going to organize with bus agencies.

“At present there is no such law to stop private buses to commute inside city area in day time, but we will soon introduce strategy to stop these buses outside the city”, said Singh, in a detailed conversation with UT.

The decision will come after a joint meeting of Administration and Bus Agencies to cop up with the present condition.

A bus agency owner said, on condition of anonymity, “Passengers want us to stop nearby their destination, even tourists want to get down just outside their hotel and this is not possible every time, but still we try to serve best to our clients”.

Ratnesh Sahu, a shopkeeper said, “Whenever there is a major program or rally being carried out in the city, you will find all main chaurahas go without traffic police, as all of them are deployed to control traffic at the rally-route”.

Mahendra Singh Dy. S.P also said, “We have made different teams to divert, control and manage traffic in case of jams”.

While, discussing on one of the most serious issues, Singh also pointed on another major problem of the city, i.e. Parking.

Singh said that parking is a major cause of worsening traffic situations, “We don’t have ample parking space in the city”, Singh suggested that there should be underground and multi storey parking places in the city.

“This is a matter of discussion and I will put forward the proposal to higher officials”, elucidates Singh.

How long it will take to get relief from the growing devilish traffic conditions, the city of lakes cries in need of immediate and effective solution, without political and self-centered intervention.