Srinagar, Nov 17: As if passengers only arrive at railway station and nobody departs that the administration has seemingly played a Jaspal Bhatti in providing bus service to City’s sole railway station. There’s only one way bus service to the Nowgam Railway Station, which ferries the incoming passengers to the City centre but not the vice-versa.

THE MEGA COMMISSIONING
 The Nowgam Railway Station, which was inaugurated in 2008 by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in presence of other dignitaries including UPA Chairperson and Congress High Command, Sonia Gandhi, provides railway connectivity between north and south Kashmir areas.
 But the state seems to have forgotten to provide requisite bus service to the station on the outskirts of south City, which has a “thin public transport facility”.

AAM AADMI SUFFERS
 This means, anyone intending to travel to north or south of the Kashmir via the train has to manage reaching the station of his own.
 The complaints have popped up from almost every part of the City. People hailing from Shehr e Khaas areas like Nawab Bazar, Safa Kadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari, Haba Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Zaina Kadal, Bohri Kadal and residents from Hazratbal and Nishat said that they find no options but either to board a Tata Sumo or Bus to reach other parts of Kashmir.
 “It is quite unfortunate on part of the local administration that they have failed to facilitate required bus service which could carry us to the railway station,” said a group of passengers.
 Similar complaints poured in from other parts of the City. “In the absence of required bus service to the railway station, I prefer getting into Tata Sumo even though the train could have been a better option,” complained Khursheed Ahmad, a businessman from Maharaj Gunj.

MESSY ROUTE TO STATION
 Given the traffic mess on the Nowgam route, the complainants said, it takes more time to reach the railway station from City centre than what it takes ahead in the journey by train.
 Students studying at South Campus of Kashmir University have also come up with similar complaints.
 “We leave home early morning everyday to reach the South Campus of the University where we are pursuing our studies but due to lack of bus service, we often miss the train which has become a serious trouble for us,” said a group of students.
 “If central government has provided railway facilities to Kashmir, why didn’t they put in place bus service for these railway stations?” aggrieved students asked.

OFFICIALS SPEAK
 Some officials at Railway Station said: “Many times we requested the concerned Regional Transport Officer (RTO) to provide two side bus service for this Railway Station so that people won’t suffer, but our pleas bore no fruits.”
 On the other hand, RTO says that “we have sufficient bus service for the Railway Station which ferries passengers from both sides.”
  “The Railway Station has two way bus facility which picks up the passengers after they arrive and drops them near Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and on return picks the passengers and drops them near Railway Station,” RTO, Anees Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST