Srinagar, May 10: As if the authorities had been sleeping all these years that despite the growing traffic mess they couldn’t identify a “blunder” on their part of having failed to remove a concrete wall, which had been preventing parking of vehicles at the erstwhile KMD Bus Stand near Lal Chowk.
 Finally, the administration woke up after around 17 years, to demolish the wall so that the people coming to the City centre can park their vehicles with ease.
 Till now, this parking lot had its sole access from the rare connecting to congested Maisuma, but often witnessed traffic gridlocks, because of which people would avoid parking their vehicles there.
 But prompted by the recent directions of MoS Home, Nasir Aslam Wani that the parking lots be upgraded and a status report be filed within 10 days, the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) went on toes to set their lots in order.
 The major attraction Thursday remained the demolition of t he erstwhile KMD bus stand wall in the City centre.
“Were the authorities sleeping all these years that they couldn’t identify the silly mistake on their part of having kept this parking closed from the side it could be used most?” asked a retired police official while looking towards the bull dozers which razed down the wall.
 The development came in response to the high level meeting chaired by the Mos Home, who talked tough on traffic streamlining asking both the police and the civil administration to utilize all available resources  to make drive down the City roads hassle free. He also sought removal of roadside encroachments.
 The meeting among others was attended by DGP Kuldeep Khoda, IGP Shiv Murari Sahai, IGP Traffic Muneer Ahmed Khan, DIG Traffic Sahfqat Watali and Dr GN Qasba who heads the SDA and the SMC.
 Dr Qasba was asked to upgrade the available parking lots with proper signage and lighting and file a status report within 10 days.
 When contacted Dr Qasba said the SDA owned parking lot wall demolition was a step in this regard. He said: “As a part of good governance, which aims at providing better facilities to the people, the parking space for around 2000 vehicles will be upgraded with proper signage and lighting by within a week.”
 He said the parking lots like the one near Khalsah School, KMD Bus Stand, Sheikh Bagh, Poloview, Super  Bazaar and the SRTC bus stand would be upgraded in this phase.
 To a question Dr Qasba admitted that the parking of vehicles had become a huge issue in this City.
 At the high level meeting, earlier this week, the Nasir Aslam Wani issued instructions to all the stakeholders to regulate City traffic and initiate strict action against defaulters.
 “The mindset among people has to change. Gone are the days of roadside parking. We have identified nearly 56 spots for bus-bays at pressure junctions so that traffic is managed in a more effective way. In first phase, 35 bus-bays will be made functional by June this year.
 “Additional shelter sheds in consonance with City ambience will be constructed. Once bus stops and bays are operationalized, their use will be maximized and any deviation or violation will be strictly dealt with,” the Minister said.
 Since the reopening of the Durbar offices, there has been some improvement in the traffic regulation in the City centre, more so because of the quick installation of traffic signals by the SMC at some designated sites like Jehangir Chowk, where commuters feel some respite.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 IST