Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Aug 12: Former MLA from Billawar, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma today said that 45-year-old Billawar Bus Stand is unable to cater to the needs of a population of over two lakhs in this Additional District besides over 15 lakhs pilgrims visiting to the shrine of Mata Sukrala Devi and is urgently needed to be shifted to a nearby larger and suitable place.
In a press statement issued here today, Dr Manohar Lal, a former minister, said that during last over 45 years, Billawar has been converted from Tehsil to Sub Divisional level and now to the status of Additional District. The population of the area including those of Machedi and Lohai Mahlar has reached to over two lakhs. This old Bus Stand raised on hardly 5-6 kanals of area always remains fully packed, with hardly any space available for on-foot movement of the people/ passengers.
Dr Sharma said some of the area of this Bus Stand has already been encroached upon and the concerned authorities failed to get it vacated. During peak hours, no space is left for the parking of the incoming buses. Even some Mini-Buses and private vehicles/ cars, load carriers etc also make easy enroads inside. It has become total nuisance. This stand has become accident prone and very risky for the passengers.
The former MLA said during past 40-50 years many old Bus Stands including that of Basohli, Kathua, Udhampur, Ramnagar, Reasi, Akhnoor, Katra, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Doda etc were expanded/ upgraded with the increased in the population and volume of traffic but this Bus Stand was never expanded or upgraded. He said a separate Mini Bus Stand was created near DFO office and old Court complex about 8-10 years ago but it was not made operational.
Dr Manohar, a two times MLA demanded that there is urgent need to create a large Bus Stand over an area of 20-25 kanals of land at Billawar Additional District headquarters so that it could properly cater to the needs of ever expanding local population, floating pilgrims’ population, even if it is made full-pledged district in coming years.
He sought the intervention of Lt Government Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary, Dr A K Mehta into this urgent matter.
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