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Each day the traffic chaos in Agra is becoming complex and beyond resolution, forcing people to waste countless minutes stranded in traffic jams that are endless and a constant "pain in the mind and body". People are losing temper and becoming aggressive, mouthing foul words and shouting. "That is because one can not keep dates and appointments," says engineering student Pratap. Even monkeys and stray cows are showing signs of distress, may be due to increased noise pollution.

What's gone wrong?

Everything, says Agra Development My Contribution (ADMC) convener Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi. "I feel in Agra the main problem of traffic is because of

1. Bad roads,

2. Lack of alternative roads

3. Absence of Pedestrian facilities in favor of Car owners

4. Encroachment of road by all... including District Authorities (Who are supposed to be care taker of these Roads)

5. Every one claims to be Traffic designer which is a similar problem as everyone claims to be doctor

6. Poor implementation of technical reports

7. Traffic is considered as a problem to be tackled last and all unfortunately in hierarchy has more emergency problems than this (We need to create a different cadre who need to work for traffic improvement)

8. Stakeholders are considered as unwanted element... (Who should be most important key person to tell about their problem)

So -what can be done?

1. Give chance to Technical adviser to fail when we have invested so much on them - a rough estimate for improving traffic in Agra at least few crores may have been spent on the Advisers without any result (due to failure in implementing the same). There are 100 reports waiting to be implemented.

2. There is no one who can claim that he knows the actual Road space - (We need to end adhoc policies, whatever comes in the way should be considered as encroachment) - Be honest with all.

3. According to the available Road space let the designer design the road. (A better engineered Road).

4. Start implementing one or two corridors according to availability of Funds (make those the roads best as per design standards) - We keep fighting for all roads and end up with no road improvement.

5. Road designing and Traffic designing are two intricate subjects - ask the expert to sit for few hours and give the best result - discussion with stake holders and final plan - Implementation within two weeks - See the result - if improved - ask them to go to next if they fail ask them to find the cause of failure - re-implement and see the result - may take some time but will improve the traffic scientifically - we have seen now for years together fighting for challan etc. - special drive and than failing.

If we can work properly Agra can improve but we need determination from both the sides Implementer and stakeholders... Can we do it?"

Indeed that is the million dollar question.

Landscape expert and agri-horticulturist Kamaljeet Singh, who recently retired from ITC group, a poet and a conservationist lamented nothing was being done from a long term perspective.

"The concern is growing proportionately… or may be more about the traffic in Agra… myself/many more may be afraid of moving in the city... move... move with heart beats growing...”