Commuters in south Kashmir complained that the authorities have failed to check the overloading in passenger vehicles plying on different routes in Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts.
The commuters alleged that the drivers were putting the lifeof the passengers to great risk by overloading.
People from different villages said that almost on everyroute the overloaded buses and small vehicles ply without any fear.
They alleged that the TATA sumo cab drivers do not leave thestand until they get at least 13 passengers for the destination.
This situation prevails mostly in rural and remote areas.The public transport scenario becomes even worse during evening hours.
“The passengers are forced to hang from the back of thevehicles. Some passengers sit on the roof while some are made to sit beside thedriver’s seat, which is against the safety norms,” some commuters said.
“There is shortage of passenger vehicles which compelsthe passengers to travel overload,” Ali Mohammad a shopkeeper whoregularly travels from his home to Shopian town said, adding that the driverswere taking “undue” advantage of the inadequate number of passenger vehicles.
Unchecked overloading in passenger vehicles particularlycauses inconvenience to the females.
Toiba Jan, a student from Tral said the policemen do watchthe overloading in the vehicles as mute spectators. “We have never seen apolicemen or a traffic personnel taking action against the erringdrivers.”
The passengers alleged that the traffic department doesn’ttake action against overloading, though the drivers are fined for other trafficviolations.
When contacted a top traffic official blamed the lack ofadequate number of passenger vehicles for overloading in rural areas.
The official said the department has low manpower and cannotafford to deploy its personnel in every rural area.