Srinagar: Even as Srinagar’s main Western Bus Stand at Batamaloo has been shifted to Parimpora, bus operators are up in arms against the administration for allowing the minibuses and cabs to operate “illegally” from the old bus stand, which they say nullifies the reasons of shifting them from there.
Shabir Ahmad Matt, who heads Western Bus Union, alleged that min-buses, Tata Sumos and Taveras plying on different routes of the Valley continue operate from the Batamaloo bus stand.
He said “the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had back in 2017 directed that no passenger vehicle shall ply from old bus stand Batamaloo; however transporters in open violation of the court orders continue illegal operation from there.
“Since our fleet of buses stand shifted to Parimpora, but min-buses and cabs continue to operate from the old bus stand Batamaloo. These transporters openly violate the High Court order and the administration is unmoved,” said Matt.
He appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary to take note of the issue and impress upon the concerned authorities to act tough against the violators.
“They charge exorbitant fares from passengers and also do not hesitate to overload; we appeal to the LG and Chief Secretary to look into the issue and order the concerned authorities to act tough against violators,” he added.
He also appealed to the administration to revisit the decision of shifting old bus stand Batamaloo to Parimpora, saying hundreds of people including transporters, drivers, conductors and shopkeepers in the area have been badly affected by the move.
Meanwhile BJP Kashmir unit leader, and Vice-Chairperson Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industry Board, Dr Hina Bhat, who visited Parimpora bus terminal this afternoon, assured that issues of transporters will be brought into the notice of LG and the Chief Secretary.
“Transporters apprised me of their problems; I will bring the issues into the notice of LG and Chief Secretary and hope the decision will be taken in their favor,” Dr Hina Bhat told reporters.
