Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: High Court has given one week to Government to file the report about the steps taken to tackle traffic irregularities in the State.
State Counsel B A Dar (AAG) submitted before the Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur that he could not file the compliance report as per court directions and sought permission to place it on record.
“….File the compliance report before the registry during the course of week with copy in advance to the learned amicus”, Division Bench of Justice Magrey and Justice Thakur directed.
Earlier Court had taken serious note of traffic irregularities and violations of Court orders in this regard and had directed all Government stake holders to react to the issues in view of public importance and file response in this regard by next date positively.
Amicus Curie to the PIL has filed a comprehensive report highlighting the issues regarding traffic irregularities and the court directions which have not been implemented in its letter and spirit till date by the authorities.
Meanwhile, status report filed by Senior Superintendent of Police district Ganderbal stated that the condition of the roads within the jurisdiction of District Ganderbal needs immediate attention.
He further informed the Court that there are frequent traffic jams particularly on road stretching from Nagbal to Duderhama. The District Police Ganderbal is regularly deploying its manpower along the road side and at Nagbal, Beehama, duderhama, Nunner and Towheed Chowk for smooth traffic movement. The manpower from traffic wing is also regulating the traffic on these congested roads.
“That the road widening from Nagbal to Manigam Bypass and from Beehama to Duderhama can lead to smooth traffic movement. Similarly the removal of bottle necks on the said stretch is also necessary. The one way traffic at Wayil Bridge causes heavy traffic congestion during Sri Amarnath Ji Yatra and a double lane permanent bridge will help in smooth traffic flow”, read the compliance report of the SSP.
Court after perusal of comprehensive report has sought response from Chairman State Pollution Control Board and Inspector General of Police traffic with regard to complete ban imposed on 15-25 year old commercial vehicles in the State authorities.
In the comprehensive report it is stated that despite court directions 15 year-old vehicles should be condemned in the State, the direction, it is added has not been implemented on ground. It is also stated that non implementation of court directions should be viewed seriously as further delay in complying with the orders will have disastrous results.
Court had directed Chairman PCB and IGP traffic to file their responses suggesting ways and measure that can be taken up to change this disturbing situation.
Court was also informed that 20,000 Autos plying in Srinagar city and in the first instance need to be switched over either to CNG or LPG and in connection major oil companies operating in the Valley need to ensure that CNG and LPG fuel is made available for the said purpose. Response was sought from Indian Oil Corporation in this regard by the court.
Transport Commissioner was also directed to file a report as to how TATA passenger vehicles with ‘squeezed seats’ and virtually no leg space at all are allowed to ply on the roads across the Valley and also he was directed to suggest corrective measures to be taken in this regard.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and SMC Commissioner had been directed to file their response vis-à-vis problems faced by the general public in view of huge building which is known as “Dar building” and some other small buildings standing right in the middle of the road at Karan Nagar Kaka Sarai road which impedes smooth plying of traffic on the vital road leading to valley’s two leading hospitals of SMHS and SKIMS, Soura.
Vice Chairman Srinagar Development Authority was directed to file response as to what steps have been taken to protect General Bus Stand, Pantha Chowk from any encroachment.
Apart from this Court had directed Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendants of Police from Kashmir province to report the Court positively by next date regarding smoothness of roads and traffic congestion in their respective districts and what measures have been taken to improve the road condition and for decongesting the traffic for the public good.
Court had also directed all concerned authorities to maintain the roads connecting Srinagar city by removing all ditches and impediments within a period of ten days on fast track basis.
Court also sought compliance report about the status of gas pipeline project from Mehsana-Bhatinda (Punjab) to Srinagar via Jammu and directed the counsel to file the response with advance copy to other side.
It is in the last month, High Court had expressed its dismay on failure of authorities to regulate the smooth traffic and other allied issues in twin cities of Kashmir and Jammu despite various court orders and directed the Advocate General to take up the issues with the authorities.
As per observation of the Court the Public Interest Litigation filed way back in the year 2003 on daily traffic problems and congestions, said that numerous orders have been passed but nothing has moved on the ground despite numerous orders have been passed from time to time but to the of the court dismay except a few hardly anything has moved.
The PIL involved number of issues like the transport congestion in both the cities of Srinagar and Jammu, the pollution that is caused by various stake holders living and doing business in these cities, the difficulty caused due to congestion in the roads which are not of adequate size, the difficulty caused due to lack of car parking facility, the difficulty caused by lack of public transport and bus stand facility.
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