Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 12: Failure of concerned Deputy Commissioners to submit the proposals to Government for construction of Bus Stands in their respective districts and tehsil headquarters coupled with mushrooming growth of vehicles over the years has led to traffic chaos in Jammu region as transporters are left with no alternative but to park their vehicles in main markets, National Highway and public places.
This has led to public outcry all over the region as people have been put to many hardships due to parking of vehicles on roadsides, Highways and other public places which often results in huge traffic jams.
The problem is worst in twin districts of Kathua and Samba falling on Jammu –Pathankote National Highway where there is no Bus Stand from Lakhanpur to Bari Brahmana except at district headquarters of Kathua and Samba with the result the drivers are parkinag their vehicles on Highway. This often results in huge traffic jams creating traffic chaos and adding to the problems of the people.
According to highly placed sources, the main reason of the problem in Jammu region is failure on the part of Government to construct the Bus Stands over the years despite the fact that there has been a mushroom growth in the number of vehicles.
Sources said that unlike other States of the country there is no Bus Stand for parking of the vehicles on tehsil headquarters or towns in Jammu region of this border State where the drivers have to face action for parking buses on road side instead of Bus Stand.
Sources said though the Transport Commissioner has sought proposals from the respective DCs of Jammu region regarding construction of Bus Stands in their respective districts but till date no one has responded positively with reasons best known to them.
Sources said the Government has proposed to construct new 17 Bus Stands in Kashmir Valley where the land has also been identified by the respective Deputy Commissioners at different places but it has not got any proposal from DCs of Jammu in this regard till date as the authorities in this region do not see it as a problem despite the fact that the Jammu is gateway of Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
When contacted Transport Commissioner, Sourav Bhagat said that he has written a letter to all DCs seeking proposals from them for the construction of Bus Stands in the region and was awaiting their replies.
Admitting that there is very less number of Bus Stands in the region, he said that to sort out the problem he will soon convene a meeting of all Deputy Commissioners of the region.
Sources said that Government is deducting parking tax from the vehicles but there is no Bus Stand from Lakhanpur to Bari Brahmana in town districts of Kathua and Samba. Same is the problem in other districts of the region.
Sources said alone in Kathua district 764 minibuses are plying on the roads and there is no Bus Stand for their parking at Lakhanpur, Ghagwal, Vijaypur and Bari Brahmana. In addition to it there are 8000 private cars in the district and only 20 percent owners have parking facilities while the rest park in open fields.
Besides, there are 27,261 two wheelers, 1930 three wheelers and 900 taxis in the district. In addition to it there are about 1000 vehicles of various Government departments including municipality and police which san parking facilities, sources added.
Moreover, there are 1694 trucks in Kathua district alone but there is no stand for their haltage constructed by Government. At Govindsar Kathua space for parking of 50 trucks is only available but there is no big stand for their parking. These trucks are parked mostly on National Highway or interior roads.
Sources said that in Kathua district alone 3,361 tractors ply from city to smallest villages and they too have no parking place and are parked on Highway or interior roads. The Kathua district which has 190 buses but the main Bus Stand has space for parking of 50 to 60 buses only, sources added.
Sources said the Transport Department has no such mechanism how to check the menace and it is issuing countless licenses without keeping these problems in view.
Sources said though Bus Stand exists in Samba township but the buses are not parked there too. Recently the Samba police and Municipality launched a drive against the vehicles being parked on National Highway and on the link roads. The administration has issued directives to the transporters to park their vehicles in Bus Stand failing which action under law will be taken up against them. The drive was being monitored by the Additional SP Samba Mr Mishra who exuded confidence that within days the buses will be parked in Bus Stand and not on Highway.
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