Srinagar, May 2: The widened road stretch at Dalgate is adding to traffic congestion in the area because instead of vehicular movement, the space is being use as an “illegal” auto-stand, parking lot and of-course a garbage dump.
 A large portion of the road was opened for traffic last week but it is being used for the odd jobs. Moreover, the major part of the widened surface, as per the locals, remains occupied with the parked vehicles for most part of the day.
 The road widening at the cost Rs 2.75 crore took more than a year to complete. During the period the public had to face acute inconvenience. But now instead of respite the widened portion has started adding to the public woes.
 “There was no need to widen the road if the space was to be misused. This is sheer mismanagement of resources and public money. Somebody must pull up the traffic police and other concerned departments for failing to act,” a pedestrian at the Dalgate stop, Ghulam Rasool, told Greater Kashmir while pointing towards the on the street parking.
 Despite being a tourist hub, Dalgate has often been a bottleneck for traffic flow as vehicles to many areas like Nishat, Harwan and Shahr-e-Khaas drive the congested way.  
 “The authorities must understand the importance of this spot and discourage the use of widened road for parking and other purposes. By allowing auto rickshaws to be stationed here, they are simply adding to the traffic mess and public inconvenience,” said a local.
 The Chief Engineer, Roads and Buildings department, Nazir Ahmad, attributed the misuse of the road to some incomplete work there.
 “We are still working on the road and the project will be completed in May. Once we do it, we will not allow the road to be used as auto-stand. It will be used for traffic only,” he said.
 When contacted the Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Shoket Hussain, said the road hasn’t been macadamized so far which was facilitating it to be used as an auto-stand.
 “It will be completed in four or five days,” he said, adding, “We will allow buses to stop only at a designated spot beyond which no vehicle, private or public, will be allowed to halt.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 May 2010 00:00:00 IST