,Reliable public transport is still not available for many areas of the capital city, where 90 percent commuters depend on the frustrating and uncertain service.
Commuters in the city regularly complain that publictransport like mini buses and Sumo shared cabs go off the roads in the evening,while a large number of mini-buses engaged to ferry schoolchildren from in theafternoon result in overloading in the limited buses available afterwards.
A large number of commuters can be seen daily waiting forbuses near Kashmir Hatt, Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Sanat Nagar, Rambagh,Jawahar Nagar, Abdullah Bridge, Sonwar, Batwara and Dalgate, Gogjibagh, Beminaand its adjacent areas.
Most of them, including elderly persons, can be seen askingfor a lift from private cars.
“Sometimes, we are helpless in absence of public transportin the evening and move on foot,” said a Kralpora-bound passenger at JahangirChowk.
Commuters from Darbagh,Harvan, Danihama, Mufti Bagh, Barji, Bat Mohalla and other adjacent areas havesimilar complaints.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Harvan said Sumos ferryingpassengers on these routes change or shorten their routes after 3pm.
“Suppose a sumo ferries passengers from Lal Chowk to Harvan.But after 3pm, the same sumo refuses to cover this destination and will ferrypassengers from Lal Chowk to Nishat only. It leaves passengers of other areasfuming and helpless,” Ahmad said.
Some areas in city and its outskirts have no publictransport available. On some routes, only Sumo service ferry passengers and nomini-buses are available.
“The unreliability of public transport raises questions overthe functioning of concerned authorities,” said Tanveer Ahmad, a commuter.
Some of the areas where no mini-buses are available includeSyed Abad Soiteng, Padshahibagh, Lasjan and Dara.
“Our children are studying in various private and publiceducational institutions located in other areas. Every student has to spend Rs40 per day on average for travelling in Sumo. The bus fair would only be justRs 15 to 20 per day on average if mini-buses were available on our route,” saidGhulam Hassan Bhat of Syed Abad Soiteng.
Regional transport officer Kashmir, Iqramulla Tak said thathe would look into all these matters.
“I will call transporters to ensure passengers don’t sufferin evening. We will also start mini-bus service in areas where it is notpresently available. We are aware around eighty to ninety percent people usepublic transport in Srinagar,” Tak said.