Srinagar, Oct 20: Commuters of south City routes like Humhama, Bagh-e-Mehtab and Kani Pora have complained thin movement of public transport in the evening hours.
 The commuters said soon after the sunset the bus facility on these routes goes thin and within an hour, which is by 7 PM, they don’t get any bus.
 Said Muhammad Yousuf of Humhama: “Most of the times I have to return home on foot because no bus is available on the route.”
 “Moreover, I can’t afford to hire auto,” he added.
 Most such complainants seemed to be private employees who have to work till late.
 “I work as a salesman and are not allowed to leave the shop before 7 PM. So by the time I leave the shop there’s no bus to my home,” said Suhail, a resident of Kani Pora.
 Interestingly, the public transport commuters said there was dearth of vehicles on the Chanapora route.
 Sources in the Regional Transport Office said this was because most the Tata 407 drivers live in the area.
 “While going home they ferry passengers on the route,” said the source.
 However, an official with RTO said the drivers couldn’t be “forced” to work beyond their “choice of hours.”
 “We can’t force them to work till late,” said the official requesting not to be named.
 Meanwhile, the commuters have appealed the Transport minister Qamar Ali Akhoon to look into the matter.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 IST