Parts of Srinagar remain shut on polling day
Srinagar: As the administration had imposed restrictions on the assembly of four or more persons under section 144 CrPC in Srinagar, all the major marketplaces in the summer capital remained shut, while public transport was off the roads.
While government and semi-government offices and banks were closed as part of the public holiday announced in areas on the poll days, shops and business establishments remained shut and public transport off the roads.
In the city centre Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Amira Kadal, Goni Khun, Jamia Market and Gojwara areas, markets were shut, with nominal movement of private vehicles.
However, the shops were open and people were going about their routine business in a few uptown areas of the city, including Parrraypora, Bhagat, Hyderpora, and Peer Bagh.
A nominal movement of private vehicles on the roads peppered with police and paramilitary personnel was witnessed till the evening in Srinagar.
According to traders, the markets were closed as they as well as their clients too had to cast their ballots; otherwise, there was no call for shutdown or pressure from any quarter to skip work on the polling day.
Voters both male and female were spotted scurrying to cast their ballots at their designated polling stations.
Interestingly, towards the evening, hundreds took the opportunity to head to the Mughal Gardens along the eastern banks of the Dal Lake, causing severe traffic jams there.
