Srinagar, Jan 26: The shortage of bus service on the Parimpora-Pantha Chowk highway mocks at the government claims of having improved the public transport facility on the bypass.
 For years, the passengers travelling on this highway stretch, which connects south Kashmir with the north, had been demanding start of a bus service dedicated for the 17 odd kilometer track.
 Even though a few years ago, the transport authorities started the bus service assuring that adequate buses would ply on the route, the frequency has gone thin.
 The passengers complain that hardly a mini bus plies on the track every hour.
 This is despite the fact that several vital establishments including Pantha Chowk bus stand Nowgam Railway Station, JK Board of School Education, Parimpora Fruit Mandi and SKIMS Medical College Hospital fall on the track.
 This means people visiting these offices have to face inconvenience if not travelling in a private vehicle. Many a complainant said they have to change at-least two buses and even walk some distance in-between to reach their destinations.
  “I have to walk over a mile on foot between Tengpora and Bemina to reach my office,” said an employee at Srinagar Development Authority office at Bemina.
 The poor service contradicts the government plans of promoting  buses on the outer roads of the City.
 “On one hand the government claims of decongesting the traffic in the City interiors while on the other hand vital outer ring roads are being ignored,” said a retired traffic police official.
 As for the bus operators, they have their own take on the issue.
 “The route isn’t profitable for short distance travel so we avoid plying on it,” said a bus driver, pleading anonymity.
 A senior official with Regional Transport Office said the matter would be looked into on priority basis.
 “As of now we can’t say anything unless we look into the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the complainants have appealed the RTO Kashmir Muhammad Anees to “personally inspect the road and see for himself how passengers suffer.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST