SYED IMRAN ALI HAMDANI
Srinagar, May 19: Believe it or not, the Transport authorities have been so callous towards the traffic mess in this summer Capital that even though there are over 10,000 registered auto-rickshaws in Srinagar, none of them has a stand.

THE SLUMBER
Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that over 10 thousand autos have been registered with the Regional Transport Office but none of them has a designated stand in the entire City.
 This means that all the auto rickshaws are operating arbitrarily while the authorities have been sleeping over the issue.

THE METERING DREAM
The apparent callousness of the Transport authorities has been so brazen that despite the directions of the High Court, they have miserably failed in the installation of fare meters in the three wheelers.
 For now, the Traffic Police Srinagar has issued fresh fare stickers for the auto rickshaws.
 SP Traffic, Srinagar, Haseeb-Ur-Rehman said the auto-rickshaws have been directed to keep the fare price pasted on the vehicle failing which they would be fined.
 He said it would take around a week to get the stickers pasted on all the auto rickshaws adding that any of them violating the norms   wouldn’t be tolerated.
 To a question on availability of auto stands, the official said the spots were being identified to create new auto stands.
 “For any complaints people can call us at 2450022, 2455164, 2455179,” he added.

STORY TILL NOW
 Pertinently, following years of failure of the Transport authorities to get the fare meters installed, last year   the then SP Traffic Maqsood-Ul-Zaman had come up with the idea of fare meter cards.
 The fares were announced through print media while a copy was distributed among the auto drivers.
 But as the drive faded away with time, police has again come up with the fare card idea, though this time in a sticker avatar.

THE FARES
The fare list announced Monday states: Lal Chowk (LC) to Soura (9.1 Kms) `104.00,  LC to Lalbazar  (9.0 kms) `103.00, LC to Haba Kadal (1.7 kms) `22.00, LC to Fateh Kadal (2.3 kms) `29.00, LC to Zainakadal (3.8 kms) `45.00,  LC to Nawa Bazar (3.0 kms) `37.00, LC to Nawa Kadal (3.7 kms) `44.00, LC to SMHS Hospital (2.8 kms) `34.00, LC to Bemina Byepass (4.7 kms) `55.00, LC to JVC Hospital (6.5kms) `75.00, LC to Barzullah Hospital (3.3kms) `40.00, LC to Sanatnagar Byepass (5.6 kms) `65.00, LC to Hyderpora (5.5kms) `64.00, LC to Natipora (3.0 kms) `37.00, LC to Jawahir Nagar Main Stop (3.0 kms) `37.00, LC to LD Hospital  (1.0 kms) `14.50, LC to Safakadal (3.5 kms) ` 42.00, LC to Bhagat Chowk (3.5 kms) `42.00, LC to  Kursu Rajbagh (4.0 kms) `48.00, LC to Qamerwari (3.8 kms) `45.00, LC to Nowgam Byepass (6.4 kms) `74.00, LC to Chattabal (3.5 kms) `42.00
 General Bus Stand(GBS) Batamaloo to JVC Hospital (5.0 kms) `59.00, GBS to SMHS Hospital (1.7 kms) `22.00, GBS to Sour Via Iddgah (7.5 kms) `86.00, GBS to Hazratbal (11.7 kms) `132.00, GBS to Chitti Padshahi (4.7 kms) `55.00,  GBS to Lal Chowk (1.5 kms) `20.00, GBS to Nehru Park (6.0 kms) `70.00, GBS to Nishat (13.5 kms) `152.00, GBS to Sonwar Via Dalgat (5.0 kms) `59.00, GBS to Batwara (6.2 kms) `72.00, GBS to LD Hospital (3.1kms) `38.00, GBS to Jawahir Nagar  (4.2 kms) `50.00, GBS to Barzullah  (4.5 kms) `53.00, GBS to Dalgate (3.6 kms) `43.00, GBS to Aali Masjid (3.2 kms) `39.00, GBS to Hawal Chowk (5.0kms) `59.00, GBS to Molvi Stop(8.1 kms) `93.00, GBS to Pantha Chowk (10.6 kms) `120.00, GBS to Bemina Byepass (3.2 kms) `39.00.
 SMHS Hospital to Sour Via Iddgah  (6.7 kms) `77.00, SMHS Hospital to Rainawari (4.0 kms) `48.00,  SMHS Hospital to L.D Hospital (4.0 kms) `48.00, SMHS Hospital to Barzullah Hospital (5.3 kms) `62.00, SMHS Hospital to Jawahir Nagar (5.0 kms) `59.00, SMHS Hospital to Soura (6.5 kms) `75.00, SMHS Hospital to Lal Chowk (2.8 kms) `34.00.
 LD Hospital to Natipora (3.0 kms) `37.00, LD Hospital to Chanapora Main Stop (5.0kms) `59.00, LD Hospital to Dalgate(4.0 kms) `48.00, LD Hospital to Nehru Park (6.0 kms) `70.00, LD Hospital to General Bus Stand (3.0 kms) `37.00, LD Hospital to JVC Hospital (8.0 kms) `92.00, LD Hospital to Bagat Chowk (3.0 kms) `37.00, LD Hospital to Sanatnagar (5.0 kms) `59.00, LD Hospital to Haiderpora (5.0kms) `59.00, L.D Hospital to Hazaratbal (11.0 kms) `125.00, L.D Hospital to Qamerwari (5.3 kms) `62.00.
 Nowhatta to LD Hospital (5.5 kms) `64.00, Nowhatta to SMHS Hospital (2.1kms) `27.00, Nowhatta to Soura (4.7 kms) `55.00. Jehangir Chowk to Batamaloo (1.1 kms) `16.00, Jehangir Chowk  to Women's Collage (1.1 Kms) `16.00, Jehangir Chowk to Regal Chowk (1.2 kms) `17.00.
 Batamaloo to HSHS (1.3 kms) `18.00, Batamaloo to Old Secretariat (1.3 kms) `18.00, Batamaloo to Regal Chowk (2.3 kms) `29.00.
Soura  to Gereral Bus Stand Iddgah (8.0 kms) `92.00, Soura to Hazaratbal (7.5 kms) `74.00, Soura to Nehru Park (10.0 kms) `114.00, Soura to Rainawari (6.0 kms) `70.00,  Soura  Chanapora to  (15.1 kms) `170.00, Soura to Natipora (13.1 kms) `148.00, Soura to JVC Hospital (12.1 kms) `137.00.

ENFORCE METERING: LC CHAIRMAN
Chairman Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra has directed the Transport department to take necessary steps for effective implementation of metering system on auto rickshaws.
“He gave this direction after the members of the House showed concern over the non- functioning of metering system on Auto Rickshaws on a question by Sardar Dharam Bir Singh Oberio,” an official handout said.
“Earlier, the Minister of state for Transport Shabir Ahmed Khan while replying to a question informed the House that the Auto Rickshaws are equipped with fare meters,” the handout said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST