The wheel-jam called by the ‘western bus service union Baramulla’ against a government order directing shifting of a sumo stand into the bus stand Baramulla, has hit the commuters badly.
The bus operators here have been on strike for six daysagainst Baramulla district administration’s order directing shifting ofCarriapa Park sumo stand to the general bus stand Baramulla.
As per the order issued on 30-04-2019, the sumo vehiclesoperating from Carriapa park stand shall now operate from general bus standBaramulla.
Infuriated by the move, the bus owners called a wheel jam onMay 4. The continued strike has left hundreds of commuters especially studentsin distress.
“We cannot afford the sumo fare as it is too highparticularly for a student. The strike called by the bus operators has kept usfrom college,” said Qaisar Ahmad, a student from Nowshehra Boniyar.
President, western bus stand union Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad,while taking dig at the district administration said from this bus stand aroundone hundred buses are operating.
He said the western bus stand Baramulla is one of the oldestunions in the district, which has been providing bus service to the people ofthe district for several decades. “However, the administration’s decision to shiftthe sumo stand to this bus stand is totally unjustified,” he said.
“Already scores of vendors have occupied space of the busstand. Mini buses are also operating from one side of this stand,” he said.
He said if sumo vehicles are brought here, there shall be nospace for the buses. “If the authorities continue to suppress the busoperators, we will have no option but to continue our strike,” he said, addingthat if the authorise have no other alternative, “then let them shift our busstand from here.”
Bilal Ahmad, a bus driver blamed the state administrationfor issuing unlimited permits to the Sumo vehicles. “Their growing number hasnow become an issue,” he said.
“The buses in the district continue to have the single standfor over seven decades. However, the sumo stands have spread in every nook andcorner of the district. The authorities need to revisit their transport policyso that the mushroom growth of sumo vehicles is restricted. There must be somepolicy,” Bilal said.