Batmaloo traders demand transit point for passenger buses

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 10:  The traders and transporters of erstwhile General Bus Stand Batmaloo today urged the authorities to dedicate the last section of the proposed mini-secretariat along with the remaining land to the transporters and allow them to use it as a transit point for passenger buses.
Under the banner of All Traders Joint Coordination Committee Batmaloo scores of traders assembled outside the erstwhile General Bus Stand and held a protest. The traders were carrying banners, reading: “Give us business through transportation” and “save traders of Batmaloo.” However, there were no reports of violence and the protesters dispersed peacefully.
Abrar Ahmad Khan, Chairman, All Traders Joint Coordination Committee and Transportation Committee said that the transporters should be allowed to use the last section of the project as a transit point for buses.
“The mini secretariat has been divided into three section and we want authorities to allow transporters to use the last section along with the residual land as transit point. We are not against the mini-secretariat.  But the way it’s being executed.  We want the Government to take us on board and address our genuine demands,” he said, adding it is being constructed on our corpses.
He added that without transport it is impossible to do business. “If the erstwhile Jammu Bus stand can be used as a transit point for buses to pick and drop passengers why cannot authorities do it here,” he rued.
The protesters said the Government promised them that the traders would be rehabilitated within the proposed mini secretariat but nothing has happened so far. “Seven months have passed but nothing has been done,” a protestors said, adding the shopkeepers inside the bus stand have been forced to shut their business by digging huge ditched at the entrance.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here