One cannot outline who suffers less and who loses more but the anguish and agony troubles in loads
Mohammad Umar Mir
Srinagar city day in and day out witness’s most awful traffic jam of its kind. The concern being serious in nature has become point of discussion on social media and in public gatherings. To remain stranded for hours in traffic jam has turn out to be part of the daily schedule of the citizens. Employees also by screening ingenuity bring into play word traffic jam as a justification for reaching late to their duties, which cannot be otherwise confronted by their heads as they are themselves fatalities of this muddle. Notorious traffic jam points in city like Rambagh Bridge, Qamarwari Chowk, Bemina , Sanathnagar, Tangpora and city centre Jahangir chowk give the impression of being flock of sheep as massive rush of vehicles remain by stranded on routine basis. Only at the time of passing of VIPs , the traffic authorities come in action, clear the road and again went hidden. If we spot the causes for traffic mess in city , the list would not be too small. Malfunction from the part of authorities be it traffic police or Regional transport officials , to look acutely into the matter and devise the effective policies cannot be over shadowed. But apparently there seems lack of coordination between the two, reason being internal administrative issues or the tussle of egos. At the hands of both , general public suffer. Mending money on the roads in the name of chalans and distressing people on roads is not always an allegation against the traffic police but most of the times a veracity as well. The biggest letdown which must be admitted on part of the Traffic police is the deployment of unscrupulous , un skilled , un educated personals on roads for scheming the traffic movement. Wearing blue uniform does not make a man traffic control expert unless and until he is properly given guidance and counseling. That is why such persons stop the vehicles in centre of the busy roads for checking the documents without caring for other hundreds of vehicles following the said vehicle resultantly roads get blocked.
A huge number of vehicles including private and passenger from almost every district of the valley particularly from rural areas enter into the Srinagar city every day which is predictable because one can neither ban the people from these areas from entering the city nor prevent them from using the transportation of their own choice. It is the authorities to devise appropriate methods for management of such vehicles in the city which is lacking. Mere shifting of bus stand wont work, free flow of traffic in the city is to be ensured wisely as Government is mighty before whom nothing is unattainable. The Ho’ble High Court of J&K in writ petition no 458 dated 19-11-2017 has directed to seize any vehicles found in wrong parking but the traffic police seizes the private vehicles while the passenger vehicles including the mini buses are left at their own choices. One smells rat as there seems a nexus between the officials and the vehicle owners. The other side of the story is that only seizing of vehicles by traffic police as well as armed police as deterrence is not going to solve the problem any more. Astonishingly, Armed police of J&K is now helping the state in generating the revenue by seizing and fining the vehicles on roads.
People keeping the vehicle on wrong parking thereby blocking the road needs to be culminated by developing a civic sense. Some misery people dither to keep the vehicle in paid parking for paying Rs 10 and block the road which is quite fateful on their part. Illegal encroachments on road side are stand still in spite of orders from courts and executive bodies for their removal and demolition. Srinagar municipal corporation grants permissions blindly for new constructions and shows disinterest in raising to the ground the illegal encroachments in the city road side. One fails to dig up as to what prevents the government authorities from implementing the laws in later and spirit and executing the orders. Policies seem to be collapsed where in symmetry needs to be in place vis-a-vis the right to livelihood and traffic jam free roads. But roads are shoddily encroached by the Raidi Walas particularly in Jehangir chowk and Hari Singh high street, one hardly passes by foot and management seems help less in the matter.
Reasons could be innumerable for the instant mess and at the same time incalculable effects could also not be overruled but endeavors for the betterment of the same need to be put in motion . Every person sitting in a vehicle stranded in traffic jam is the victim of the disarray. One cannot trace out who suffers less and who loses more but the anguish and agony troubles loads. Every body being a conscientious citizen ought to take steps to lead towards the reformation. No doubt there are agencies within the system shouldered with the responsibility to fling and lob the troubles but speaking fairly, every individual in the society needs to take pains for the betterment of the society.
The problem of traffic mess is no doubt serious but seemingly there is no bold step from part of the authorities to cure the same. The whole system/management needs to be overhauled. A separate wing without intrusion from any quarter should be in place to carry on the traffic management. There need to be an advisory committee of experts to guide and give suggestions from time to time so that lacunas in the system may lessen. The constructions on and around the roads should be completed on fast track basis in a time bound period but unfortunately the accountability has lost its place. Area of roads is same since decades but increase in number of vehicles has lay a hand on the height. So there should not be a place for bargain when it comes to widening of the roads. The concept of cycle traveling need to be revived. If the system continues as it is, one cannot dream of the traffic free roads in the city.
Author is practicing lawyer in high court Srinagar and can be reached at umarmir768@gmail.com
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