The government has ordered the shifting of the bus stand in Batamaloo to Parimpora with immediate effect despite opposition from transporters and traders.
In its order issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, he has stated that it has become important to shift the bus stand in order to decongest the city.
“All affiliated buses to the western bus service operating in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora , Budgam and the buses from central Kashmir have been shifted to Parimpora,” the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner reads.
Transporters and various trade associations have been opposing the shifting of the bus stand, claiming the move will cause them huge losses.
“The condition of the land where the bus stand is being shifted is very poor. It is going to be very difficult for the commuters as the current location is central,” said Nazir Ahmad, a driver from Baramulla.
“There are hundreds of people earning their livelihood from here who will be badly affected. The government must think about them,” he said.
Bus and cab owners have been holding protests since the government took the decision. However, the government has asked them to shift with immediate effect.
They said that the shifting of the bus stand would cause inconvenience to commuters travelling from northern parts of Kashmir to the summer capital.
The government has converted 57 kanals of land located at Parimpora as the general bus stand.
“No passenger vehicles, especially Tata Sumos, that cause traffic congestion in Srinagar will be allowed to ply beyond Parimpora,” the government has ordered.
The Srinagar city has been a mess for many years due to the frequent traffic jams. The government is now taking measures to decongest the city, in which the major decision was to shift the bus stand from Batamaloo.
Despite opposition, Batamaloo bus stand to be shifted to Parimpora
