HAROON RESHID BHAT
“Flyover- Bridges from Nagbal to Behama Chowk or From Daderhama Chowk to Behama can be the another option before the admistration to overcome this traffic Jamming”
Facing traffic jamming is now a mere matter of the course in almost everywhere mostly in urban areas. I deliberately chose this title for my write-up highlighting the name of the district here because I am experiencing this odd situation almost every day while discharging my duties in the said district. So far its history, this district came into existence in 2007. Since then nothing concrete has been done in terms of widening of urban roads more importantly the road from Dadarhome to Beehama Chowk. The astonishing thing is that there is no continuity to the footpaths, commuters hardly find any safe ground while walking on the road. A person moves backward ten times to cover a few yards to ensure his/her safety. District administration must come out with some road plan, and review the traffic Management on a priority basis to address this issue. It has become the most acrimonious experience for those who are opting this route daily, it is a time-consuming, boring, headache, and unpleasant journey for all mostly for school,university and office goers. It not only affects social/ family lives but also harms professional life. It has a very adverse effect on health. It is pertinent to mention here that One more important public concern is related to human lives which is medical emergencies. Any unnecessary delay due to the frequent traffic halts will have very serious consequences on human life. It can be fatal for women patients (Delivery cases). However, The traffic police are performing their duties with utmost care. They can find temporary solutions to the problem but this problem needs everlasting solutions. The district has a very unique geographical location as it is bordered by district Srinagar in the south, Bandipora to the north, Kargil in the northeast, Anantnag to the southeast, and Baramulla in the southwest. Besides this, It is the home of several tourist attractions and historical places like the holy Amarnath Shrine, Kheer-Bavani Temple at Tullamulla, Sono-Marg, etc. Our visitors pilgrimage/Yatris are facing suffocation when they remain stranded an hours on the road. I am here to submit my suggestions in this regard. In addition to this, the district is the abode of many big institution like Central University, physical Collage, three Off SKUST-K Campuses, etc.
Solutions: One of the immediate solutions is to widen the entire road All this process should be done after doing the proper social survey. Also, in this entire process, proper rehabilitation policy must be adopted so that no one will suffer in terms of shelter or trade. Installation of Permanent road dividers where necessary. The government can introduce an ample number of special city bus services and encourage people to avail of public transport instead of private ones. Besides this, we common people can do timely methods to eradicate this traffic mess. Like we can share private vehicles with our nears and dears, we can encourage our generations to use cycling culture, among youth, following Traffic Rules consciously. These small initiatives not only reduce the traffic rush but will keep our environment neat and clean. Let us join hands to make this entire area more nice-looking and favorable.
Utilization of New Sumo Stand as General Stand: The honorable governor inaugurated the New Sumo Stand in Ganderbal near the SP Office a year ago to facilitate the public. It should operate as a general Stand for all routes. Presently, various Sumo Stands are operating at different spots creating a lot of inconvenience to the general public.
Need to Develop Suffisticated Car Parking: As the district is emerging as a business center, shopping malls, private offices, and shops have come into existence here. But all these developments without Car parking not only create inconvenience to the business community but also the general public. There is a need to develop a sophisticated car parking facility.
Establishment of Auto-Stand: With the introduction of E-Auto Rickshaws, unemployed youth across the valley have taken it an opportunity to earn from this profession. The same kind of attitude is also evident here. A good number of E-Auto Rickshaws are plying in and around the city. But, unfortunately. there is no fixed Auto-Stand for them. For the whole day, They are playing hide and seek with the Traffic Police to avoid any Challan.
Widening Hospital Chowk. There are two ways to avoid the traffic jam at the Hospital Chowk. Either the district administration has to give an alternative diversion to the hospital road or to cut down the Chinar Trees to give proper space there so that traffic flows smoothly. No doubt, environmentalists will be reluctant to uproot the Chinar Trees from there. But we have to make a comparative decision here. Whether to face a traffic jam regularly, spoil the precious time of school, university, or office goers, or to keep the situation as it is. “We can grow more Chinar Trees but we can’t recover our precious time that goes waste because of these two or three Chinar Trees that are erected on the middle of the road.”
Establisment of Flyover- Bridges: Flyover- Bridges from Nagbal to Behama Chowk or From Daderhama Chowk to Behama can be the another option before the admistration to over come this traffic Jamming.
Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher and columnist, can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com.