Even after 5 yrs, Khanpur Bus Stand non-functional
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 21: Even after the lapse of more than five long years, the Bus Stand constructed for the Banihal, Doda-Kishtwar route and Katra-Reasi buses at Khanpur near Nagrota Bypass could not be made operational till date, while the BC Road near Jammu Bus Stand has been virtually converted into undeclared Bus, Mini-Bus and Taxi/ Sumo Stand for Jammu-Srinagar, Rajouri-Poonch and Doda-Kishtwar route vehicles adding to the traffic mess.
It is strange to witness that under the nose of the Divisional/ District Administration Jammu, besides Traffic Police department, a ‘traffic mess’ has been created right from Bakshi Nagar crossing up to Jewel Chowk but the people those at the helm of affairs have turned a blind eye toward this mess.
Even the Traffic Police Jammu and the Regional Transport Authorities have never bothered to clear this bottle-neck and provide relief to the general public. The permanent Bus and Taxi/ Sumo/ Tempo Traveler Stand on the Road near General Bus Stand has become a chronic problem, which needs immediate attention of the Administration and proper monitoring by the senior Traffic Police and Transport department officials.
“On both sides of the BC Road, just near KC Theatre and Model Academy, the idle parking of the buses of Jammu-Billawar and Jammu-Kathua route has become the cause of traffic congestion. At Bakshi Nagar crossing and also at KC Chowk, the mini-buses have created permanent traffic congestion. Ban Talab-Kot Bhalwal route mini buses have converted into undeclared Bus Stand and they keep their vehicles parked there without bothering for the Traffic cops deployed there for the reason ‘best known’ to them.
In the evening, the Video coach buses for Delhi-Chandigarh and other locations operate from BC Road only and Administration never bothered for the creation of additional bus stand for the purpose and minimize traffic load in this area. Similar, is the position at Maheshpura Chowk, where mini-buses/ buses remain parked for long and the road has been covered by Rehri/ Pharia Wallas and even on the foot paths ‘Khokhas’ have been raised under the nose of Jammu Municipal Corpo-ration, District Administ-ration and Traffic Police authorities,” said RK Bakshi vice chairman of Trikuta Complex Traders Union.
“These unscrupulous vendors are reportedly paying hefty amount on weekly and daily basis to some officials of JMC and even concerned cops of the area, at the cost of most inconvenience to the general public. The mini-bus operators have created a massive mess on the city roads, especially at Jewel Chowk, Rehari Chungi, under Flyover Bakshi Nagar Morh, New Plot -Janipur Road, Parade Ground- Kachi Chawani, Talab Tillo and Ashoka Crossing (Satwari). There is urgent need to pull up lower ranking Traffic cops on duty by the seniors to regulate traffic strictly at these city bottle-necks.
Though Jammu people have high hopes from the new IG Traffic Basant Rath who is putting all his efforts to streamline things on city roads here, yet the solution of this chronic problem is not apparently possible without the support of other agencies,” he maintained.
“A mini-bus stand was created for the Ban Talab route mini-buses just closer to MLA Hostel under flyover, but the concerned agency officials raised a large number of workshops inside the complex and now that site has been made available only for workshops operation and also grabbed by those running these shops while the Bus Stand has come on the road. But unfortunately, every agency shirks its responsibility. Mini-buses/ Matadors have created a major mess on the city roads but Traffic cops turn blind eye towards these vehicles even if they violate Traffic rules in front of them, drop or pick up passengers at the crossings,” said Parshotam Sharma another trader at BC Road.
He further revealed that interestingly, to get rid of the traffic mess in and around Jammu Bus Stand, Administration proposed new Bus Stand for idle buses at Khanpur near Nagrota Bypass for Banihal Route buses about 10 years back and also another one near Paloura for Rajouri-Poonch route buses. Jammu Development Authority (JDA) took up work in hand to create facility on nearly 100 kanals of area and also raised around 30 shops there.
He said the bus stand is ready since long but unfortunately it is lying unused for the last over five years. The Administration has utterly failed to shift the idle buses from Jammu Bus Stand and BC Road to Khanpur despite severe criticism by the public and local media. “Over Rs 15 crores of public exchequer said to have gone down the drain as the bus operators have refused to move about 10 kms away from Jammu Bus stand for availing parking facility. The planners and officers in the Administration, responsible for raising this bus stand failed to realize this fact. Even after eight years JDA failed to acquire land for Paloura Bus Stand being created over 200 kanals of land till date. If this facility would have been created, the traffic load of Poonch-Rajouri could have been shifted outside BC Road,” Bakshi said.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Hemant Sharma when contacted said that he had taken review of the issue recently. He admitted that idle parking near Jammu Bus Stand and also on B C Road has become major cause of traffic jams, yet maintained that Administration shall take up some initiatives which are needed to be implemented involving all the concerned agencies. He said Bus Stand at Khanpur near Nagrota was constructed for idle parking of buses of Banihal Route but the operators are hesitating to go there. Earlier, efforts were made to shift the same to Khanpur but due to some political pressure the process was said to be stalled.
Replying to another question Divisional Commissioner said he would shortly convene a meeting of all the concerned agencies including officials from Transport Department and Traffic Police and affective steps will be taken to shift Bus Stand to Khanpur. He said all the necessary facilities have been created there for operators and JDA has even allotted shops there. It will be made functional shortly, Sharma added.
Vice Chairman JDA, R K Shavan when contacted said that for developing Khanpur Bus Stand, JDA’s role was just to raise facility. He said the JDA raised infrastructure including two dozen shops, toilet complex, rest hall for the drivers/ conductors but it is up to the State Road Transport authorities to shift the buses there from Jammu Bus Stand and BC Road area and put it to use.
” We have made huge investment there but unfortunately it has remained un-utilised since long. Even some portion has been occupied by outsiders, bathrooms damaged, lights stolen. Entire Bus Stand has been blacktopped since long and flood lights installed on big poles erected there.
Shavan said he personally visited there during recent past and even Financial Commissioner, Mr Aggarwal also went there few days back. ” I have taken up the matter with the Transport Commissioner Saugat Biswas as well. Necessary notification for this has already been issued by the State Transport authorities few years back. The Transport and Traffic Police authorities and Divisional Administration should play its role so that this bus stand at Khanpur is put to use, Shavan added.
Responding to another question regarding status of proposed Paloura Bus Stand on Akhnoor Road for Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor-Chhamb route buses, the Vice Chairman said that land acquisition process has been completed for the same. It took long time. But till today, the State Transport authorities have not paid money to the JDA to raise facility there. As and when the funds are released by the Transport authorities, the work would start there also. ” We are ready to take up any other such project if they are asked for so as to reduce traffic congestion in Jammu city,” Shavan maintained.
He said this bus stand for Rajouri-Poonch buses is being created on nearly 200 kanals of land and Rs 7 crore is the land cost. He put the project cost around Rs 30 crores. Regarding, mess at Jammu Bus Stand and BC Road, he said the concerned agencies including Traffic Police and Transport authorities must take cognizance of the matter.
RTO Jammu, Deep Raj, however, said that his officers had launched drive to clear BC Road and Bus Stand area some time back but due to the political interference, the drive had to be stopped. He said that this is chronic problem and needed to be solved by involving other agencies so that suitable sites could be identified for the Stands for commercial medium and light vehicles operating between Jammu-Srinagar, Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban and Jammu-Katra-Reasi routes. He said there was urgent need to shift Bus Stand to Khanpur Nagrota so that congestion at BC Road and Bus Stand could be minimized. He said necessary notification for the same stands issued by the Transport Commissioner few years ago. Now, it is collective responsibility of all the agencies including District Administration to shifted the Bus Stand, the RTO maintained.
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