Mounting encroachments, roadside vendors and an allegedly illegal Friday cattle market near the railway crossing have turned traffic congestion into a recurring ordeal for residents of Tando Jam, with commuters, schoolchildren and even emergency ambulances struggling to navigate the choked roads amid alleged inaction by municipal authorities. Residents said the illegal cattle market, set up every Friday near the railway crossing, coupled with shopkeepers extending their businesses beyond designated limits and vendors occupying roads with pushcarts, had severely narrowed major thoroughfares, disrupting the flow of traffic. The situation is particularly dire around Main Workshop Stop, Nawan Hatt Bazaar and the railway crossing, where roadside encroachments have made commuting increasingly difficult. According to residents, traffic gridlocks frequently leave ambulances carrying patients stranded, potentially delaying access to medical care. Students travelling to and from schools and colleges also face considerable difficulties, while pedestrians struggle to cross roads safely.