Authorities silent spectators, traffic jams all over

Nawshaba Iqbal

Srinagar, May 1: Unauthorized taxi stands galore on Srinagar Bypass at major junctions and on the entrances of two leading hospitals of Kashmir leading to traffic jams at multiple places even as the authorities claim decongesting of Srinagar city.
Around two dozen unauthorized taxi stands operate from both sides of the highway at Shalteng, Parimpora, Bemina, Mominabad, Hyderpora, Sanat Nagar, Nowgam and Pantha Chowk crossing and main entrances of SKIMS Hospital Bemina and Children’s Hospital Bemina.
These stands affect the seamless mobility on the 14.5 kilometer corridor as dozens of these vehicles line up on the bypass at each of these stands and block the traffic leading traffic jams.
Commuters told Excelsior that traffic snarls intensify during peak hours, especially around school timings and the evening and morning rush, as taxis occupy road space meant for the traffic.
“There is no official taxi stand at many of these locations, yet vehicles continue to gather,” a local resident said they park along the roadside and wait for passengers, blocking movement despite repeated interventions.”
Traffic authorities acknowledged the issue, saying enforcement drives are being carried out daily but have had limited long-term impact.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic City) Aijaz Ahmad said 10 to 20 vehicles are seized every day during such drives.
“We conduct regular enforcement at multiple points and remove these vehicles, but they return again,” he told Excelsior.
He attributed the persistence of the problem to a demand-supply gap, noting that many commuters, particularly from rural areas, prefer vehicles like Sumos and Taveras due to quicker connectivity and shorter waiting times.
“This demand leads to clustering of vehicles at certain points, affecting traffic flow and posing management challenges,” he said, adding that a structured policy with a proper permit system is needed to regulate such services.
Drivers, however, blamed the absence of designated taxi stands for the situation. Mohammad Akbar Bhat, a Sumo driver, said many operators have taken loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to purchase vehicles.
“If there is no proper stand, where should we go?” he said, adding that drivers were earlier operating from Batamaloo and Tengpora but were asked to vacate those locations.
“We are left with no option but to stand on the roadside,” he said.
Commuters said the issue requires a balanced approach that ensures smoother traffic flow while addressing the concerns of drivers dependent on the sector.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 1: Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari has urged the Central Government to come up with reciprocal Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to strengthen the prevailing peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said people have played a vital role in ensuring and sustaining a peaceful environment in Jammu and Kashmir, and now it is the responsibility of the Government of India to come up with reciprocal CBMs to support this ongoing peace and normalcy here.
“How long will our leaders and youth remain jailed? All the detainees except those who are facing charges for heinous crimes, must be freed,” he said while addressing a workers’ convention at Gulzarpora in Rawalpora, Srinagar today.
He also called for an end to arbitrary arrests and the indiscriminate filing of FIRs.
Taking a dig at traditional political parties, Bukhari said these parties have consistently deceived people with lies, false promises, and emotional slogans. He also blamed the public for allowing these parties to exploit them repeatedly.
Bukhari said, “Despite knowing that these political parties have been deceiving you time and again, and that they return every election with false promises to seek your votes, why do you continue to let them exploit you?”
“This ruling party made numerous promises during its election campaign. What has happened to those promises? Where are the one lakh jobs they pledged to provide soon after forming the government? Why have they not fulfilled their promise to regularise daily wagers? Where is the free electricity? Where is enhanced ration quota? Where are free gas cylinders, and the other benefits they assured they would deliver?”
Reiterating his view about the unjust reservation system, Bukhari said, “This unjust system has to go, and it must go. How long will 70 percent of the population receive only a 30 percent share of jobs? This is highly unjust,” he asserted.
Senior leaders- Muntazir Mohiudin, Mohd Ashraf, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Shiraza Malik, Dr Bilal Ahmad, Sheikh Nissar, Shoaib Dar and many others were also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 1: The Special Crime Wing (SCW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K today filed a chargesheet against three persons in a multi-lakh Government job fraud case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar.
In a statement issued here, the agency said the chargesheet, filed in FIR No. 09/2019 under Sections 201, 419, 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the RPC, names Fayaz Ahmad Khan of Maloora Shalteng, Showkat Ahmad Shah of Shanzipora Handwara, and Owais Ahmad Rather of Shalteng Khwaja Bagh as accused.
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According to the Crime Branch, the accused allegedly duped several residents of Pulwama by collecting large sums of money on the promise of securing Government jobs for their children and relatives.
The investigation revealed that the accused were acting in criminal conspiracy and posed as influential officials to gain the trust of victims, the agency said.
They allegedly issued forged appointment orders purportedly from the Forest Department, which were later found to be fake.
Payments were reportedly taken in cash under the pretext of facilitating “backdoor entry” into Government service, the statement said.