MESS IN TRAFFIC SYSTEM-WHY ?

By M.A. Kakroo

All modes of transport plying under traffic system in the entire state has grown a  nuisance and city Srinagar is worst hit. The growth in motor vehicles could not keep pace with the required road connectivity in the state particularly since 1990, with the result the existing road net work receive d tremendous load of vehicles. The increase in number of public  and private transport fleet and road length maintained by State P.W Department from 3/1990 to 3/2017 has been as:-

These figures reveal that the number  of registered vehicles has grown by 14  times but the surfaced and unsurfaced roads has recorded the growth by little over two times in a period of 27 years. The above figures reveal that state Govt. has remained  non-serious and totally failure in maintaining the pace towards road requirement and the demand. The plying of vehicles on different routes in Srinagar city cause road Jamming regularly , with the result , the roads turn the fleet terminuses. The drivers of passenger vehicles stop enroute at any point of road to lift  and drop commuters  and in this process, the roads get blocked regularly. It is to point out here that a driver of passenger vehicle stops at least sixty times to cover a distance of eight to ten Kms. from Lal Chowk to Hazratbal via Lal Bazar and same mechanism is in place in other routes. These drivers close road corners road, crossings 2,3,4 etc to wait for commuters with the result, the road Jamming occurs regularly and the  padestrains find  it inconvenient  to walk on road under these circumstances. During May 2017, a survey to ascertain the time  consumed  by passenger vehicle drivers from start to destination in all different routese of city Srinagar, was conducted and it got confirmed that the commuters are robbed of extra time to the extent of 4.8 lakhs hours , durtion during each day equivalent to over 20 thousands working  days time in a single day and one  can guess the physical and mental situation of a passenger would remain under these circumstances. The over loading phenomenon in these passenger vehicles is of worst type. To sum up the traffic system here has  tuned  rouge as it robes the commuters of human virtues and to mention the inconvenienece and trouble causes to general public in the process of  travelling a number of paper leaves will fall short of.

          The following measures are suggested to improve the existing traffic management in city Srinagar.

a.     The drivers of passenger vehicles should stop to lift and drop commuters only at identified stops enroute and wherever such stops do not exist same be erected. This will minimise the time consumption during the  bus journey. It is to add here that bus stops are exiting in Srinagar City at all key points.

b.     The foot paths around Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Maharaj Bazzar , Hari Singh High Street, Botamaloo, Iqbal Park, Dalgate etc. remain commonly occupied  by shellfish elements for purposes of business as such  are required to be restored to public.

c.      The route from Jehangir Chowk via Maisuma to different stations needs to be dispensed  with as the Maisuma is the hub of business units particularly the vehicle repairing shops where vehicles remain on the roads for repairing purpose, thus a cause of road Jamming and blockade around Budshah and Lal Chowk areas.

d.     The behaviour of passenger vehicle operators is commonly rude, aggressive and abusive towards commuters are required to be dealt under  law.  

e.      The use  of mobile phones by operators of all motor vehicles even of bikers  while driving the vehicle be banned to restrict  the occurrence of accidents on roads.

f.       The minors are seen driving motor vehicles, bikes  etc is required to be dealt severally under law, being the serious lapse on the part of concerned state departments.

g.     The parking places in  and around Lal Chowk are in-adequate at present as meh sufficient parking palces be raised in order to avoid the closure of roads by vehicles.

h.     Currently, the private transporters in the state are rendering the services under monopolistic mechanism with the result the public is put to inconvenience and trouble. To make the traffic system effective, he  J&K SRTC  should enter in the trade as a stiff competitor in the interest of public and state.

i.       The traffic personnel are key to the success of smooth traffic system, as such are required to be equipped  with all relevant equipments on priority as they are seen ignoring the lapses of drivers.

j.       The use of bicycles in Srinagar city and important towns  of State holds key for restricting the alarming scale of pollution due to vehicle movement at undesired  level at present. Bicycles can be used for attending offices, business units, education institutions by all.  

(The author is Ex. Director General Economics & Statistics J&K and can be contacted at 9858434696)