Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 4: High Court today directed the Government to implement the road widening project in and around Srinagar city within three months.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta while hearing PIL on decongestion in and around Srinagar city directed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to ensure the implementation of the project report on road widening.
“…He shall ensure that the road widening project in the city of Srinagar already approved is completed within a period of three months and report compliance. He shall also ensure that further road widening required is taken up in consultation with the Chief Engineer, Roads & Building, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, SSP Traffic, city Srinagar and all other allied agencies”, DB directed.
DB directed that in consultation and on consensus, the project report, so prepared, shall be shared with the court on the next date of hearing so that the directions are issued accordingly for its implementation.
Court also directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to ensure smooth vehicular movement at the Batmaloo-Qamarwari stretch. “He shall associate SSP Traffic, Srinagar with the process of acquisition of structures for road widening at Qamarwari chowk,” DB added.
As regards the installation of Intelligent Traffic Management System, Court has been informed that a Delhi based agency – DIMTS has completed the survey of proposed junctions and design of new junctions where Intelligent Traffic Signal Lights are proposed to be installed.
Court in this regard directed Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, to ensure that the work is undertaken by the contractor without any further delay and the Intelligent Traffic Signal Lights are actually in sight at the proposed junctions. “He shall file status report to that extent by the next date of hearing”, DB directed.
As regards the direction of Court to identify the areas and spots where the signages are required to be fixed, the report states that SSP, Traffic, Srinagar, has, out of six finalized traffic signages, only approved two traffic signages -“No Parking Zone” and “No Horn Zone” and 39 spots for installation of “No Horn Zones” have also been identified.
Court directed the Commissioner SMC to submit the status report in this connection by the next date of hearing.
As regards the parking policy, Court has been informed that a plan is devised to create a parallel road parking slots alongside the main roads in the Srinagar city for smooth plying of vehicular traffic and approximately 1726 parking spaces have been identified for such purpose.
The details of the facilities which would be provided to such parking spaces have also been spelled out in the status report. Besides such parallel road parking, the status report talks of a road side parking/ on-street parking. Trial in that direction is stated to be undertaken very soon.
“The Authorities responsible for managing the parking affairs of the vehicles are expected to resort to the measures those would not add to the traffic woes but would lessen it to see that the object of the instant PIL is achieved”, court reiterated and directed that this exercise, however, shall strictly be undertaken on trial basis for a period of two weeks initially and its continuation shall depend on the response of the SSP, Traffic, Srinagar.
In case, court said, the proposal gets the nod of the SSP, Traffic, Srinagar, the matter shall be brought to the notice of the court for further directions.
With regard to closing of business establishments on once in a week Court observed that no action is reported by the Government to this Court in this regard. State counsel sought further time in this regard to report compliance with a rider in case compliance is not filed that Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Labour and Employment Department, shall remain present in person before the court.
Meantime, an application moved by the shopkeepers of the Residency Road stating therein the area of 1600 sqfts of State land has been resumed for utilizing as parking space by the Srinagar Development Authority, which however, is not being utilized.
“The Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, shall report the steps taken for utilizing the State land, in default, he shall appear in person before the Court on the next date of hearing to explain the reasons of failure”, DB directed.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel