Srinagar, June 11: Karan Nagar main road, a key link to City’s two prime hospitals –the SMHS and the SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura –is often in a mess due to roadside parking of hundreds of vehicles. And even though this congestion on the road hinders movement of patients to the hospitals, the government has been seemingly sleeping over the issue.
 The kilometer long stretch between the Karan Nagar chowk and the Kak Sarai is the worst hit because those visiting the commercial complexes in this residential area keep their vehicles parked on the main road while government agencies like police, its traffic wing and the civic body have failed to check it over the years even as more commercial complexes are coming up in the area.
 The problem is compounded by the roadside showcasing of vehicles, which many shops there sell.

THE COMMERCIAL MANIA
 Even though in the past two decades, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has allowed scores of commercial complexes to come up in the area, hardly any of them has proper parking lot.
 Because of this those visiting the complexes keep their vehicles parked on the main road leaving little space for traffic to move ahead.
 Between Karan Nagar square and the Gole Market, experts said around one thousand vehicles remain parked on the main road.

VEHICLE SHOWCASING
 As if this mess due to roadside parking of vehicles wasn’t enough, that SMC has allowed scores of shops dealing with sale and purchase of vehicles, to setup their ventures in the area. All such shops, in violation of norms keep their vehicles including cars and two wheelers showcased on the road.
 A senior Traffic police official said roadside showcasing of vehicles was brazen violation of municipal norms adding that SMC should review the licenses of such outlets.

THE VICTIMS
 As hundreds of vehicles remain parked on the main road, the travelers, particularly patients being rushed to SMHS or the SKIMS, are the worst victims.
 Officials said the traffic congestion in the area hinders timely movement of vehicles and at times even proves deadly for the patients.
 A medico said there were several incidents when the patients were declared brought dead due to delay in reaching the hospital.

TOWING HYPE
 Even though the Traffic police towing vans keep zooming past the City centre for the whole day, the men-in-blue seem to have missed to a keep a constant vigil on the Karan Nagar stretch.

THE NEXUS
 Sources said some of the people running business ventures in the area are “well connected in the corridors of power.”
 “In the past such elements tactfully sabotaged anti-encroachment drives in the area by staging protests which lead to law and order problems,” said a senior official in the administration requesting not to be named.

POLICE, SMC ROLE
 The role of Thana police and the SMC seems to be non-existent when it comes to drive against roadside showcasing of vehicles or even stray parking. This is despite the fact the SMC head office is barely a few furlongs away from the site.

BIG COMMERCIAL HUB
 The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Shafqat Watali agrees that Karan Nagar has become a “big commercial hub”, for which a comprehensive strategy needs to be in place for smooth flow of traffic.
 He said other departments including the civic body and the Roads and Building department should cooperate in streamlining of traffic by playing their part of role.

THE SOLUTIONS
 Observers said the SMC should review licenses of shops which are running “improper business” in the area. Besides the space outside National School presently being used as a Tata Sumo stand be utilized for parking.
 Superintendent of Police Traffic Haseeb Ur Rehman while agreeing with the view said the Tata Sumo stand could be shifted elsewhere.
 Besides, Nazool land near Karan Nagar square is being seen as a remedy to the problem. Officials said the government could use its “good offices” to get the land utilized for parking facility. This land lies towards the east of the Karan Nagar square, on the right of the road which leads to Kani Kadal.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST