pic by: Zargar Zahoor
Srinagar: Commuters continued to suffer for the second consecutive day as public transport remained off the roads due to Wheel Jam strike called by The Kashmir Transport Welfare Association KTWA over shifting of bus terminal from Battamaloo to Parimpora.
KTWA had earlier called for a two day strike against the move.
plained that in absence of the public transport travelling has become troublesome and reaching destination on time is impossible.
“Either one boards a Sumo or gets an auto rickshaw. But both are charging exorbitant prices,” Naveed ul Rehman, from Narbal area told INS at Battamaloo.
Seconding Naveed, Ishfaq Ahmad a student from Bemina area of Srinagar said that he had to Rs 150 to a auto rickshaw from Bemina to Lal Chowk. Its just a distance of 5kms.”
Not only are the commuters within Srinagar finding it difficult to travel but the ‘brunt of wheel jam’ is being faced by people travelling from far off places.
Rafiq Ahmad 40, from Langate area of Kupwara district told INS that he left for Srinagar at at 8am.
“For some I had to walk, then took lift from load carriers and private vehicles,” Khan said.
Students too were seen perturbed over not being able to make it to institutes on time. A group of students in hurry told INS in Jehangir chowk, ‘It’s a mess’.
Even though a feeble number of State Road Transport Corporation ( SRTC) owned buses could be seen plying on the Srinagar -baramulla highway and some were plying on Dargah-Lalchowk route, it couldn’t prove enough.
“There is absolute chaos here. I have to reach to Bandipora, for the past fourty minutes I am trying to find some vehicle to pick me up,” Abdul Rashid, a resident of Ajas Bandipora said.
Meanwhile All Traders Coordination Committee Batmaloo, an amalgam of trade bodies have joined hands with the protesting transporters against the shifting of the bus stand to Parimpora.
Representatives of the protesting bodies of transport association and traders met the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
“She assured that she will look into there issue,” a member of the transport association who was present in the meeting told INS wishing not to be named.
According to association members they will be holding a meeting of all representatives of various bodies at late evening today.
“We will see if we have to extend the strike or call of after CM’s assurance,” member of KTWA said anonymously.
