With the authorities claiming to have already started tendering process to develop the truck terminal at Parimpora on Srinagar outskirts as a bus stand, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the government to expedite the process of shifting the General Bus Stand at Batamaloo to the identified site.
Shifting of the bus stand is aimed at decongesting traffic in Srinagar city, which is grappling with huge gridlocks on daily basis.
“The authorities concerned shall expedite the progress of shifting of the General Bus Stand at Batamaloo to the identified site,” a division bench of the High Court said in its orders made available today while asking the authorities concerned to file a status report in this regard before the next hearing.
The state government, in its status report, told the High Court that after a fresh review it had been decided to shift the General Bus Stand at Batamaloo, which tackles north-bound traffic, to the truck terminal at Parimpora.
The court was also informed that some steps in this behalf had been taken, which include issuance of tender notice dated December 1, 2015.
The High Court is hearing a PIL on the master plan violations and traffic in the city.
“In terms of the tender notice, single cover system e-tenders have been invited on item rate basis for development /raising of footpaths, central verges, including tiling and fencing at the truck terminal, Parimpora , Srinagar,” the government stated in its status report.
It was further submitted that land measuring 12 kanal, which belonged to the Government Press near the KMDA Bus Stand at Lal Chowk, has been taken over from the Government Press and developed for parking of vehicles.
Adjacent to it, a semi-automatic parking facility with a capacity of 288 vehicles is already being developed by the Economic Reconstruction Agency, the government said.
“The work for construction of parking slots should be expedited,” the court said while asking the authorities concerned to file a compliance report in this regard.
High Court wants shifting of Batamaloo bus stand expedited
