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| People demand replacement of mini buses with Tata Sumos | | With public transport system in doldrums people forced to feel heat in summer capital | |
Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: The public transport system is in doldrums in the summer capital of state and the mini buses operating on majority of city routes have become a nuisance for the people owing to multiple reasons.
Most of the mini buses are in dilapidated condition and despite being fit for being declared condemned these mini buses continue to run on the city roads thus putting the lives of people to risk. Although announcements have been made for phasing out these vehicles nothing practical has been done in this regard so far.
"Tata mini buses and Swaraj Mazdas have become a headache for the commuters of Srinagar city. First the condition of these vehicles is too bad and the various accessories have been damaged extensively. The seat covers have worn out but still then the owners of the mini buses don't change them while taking the people for a ride," said Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Sanat Nagar.
Majority of the mini buses operating in the Srinagar city date back to 1980s and early 1990s with just a few among them have been registered in 2000 or later on. As such the city residents do not have the luxury of availing the services of comfortable public transport facilities. This means the Srinagar city has been deprived of best possible transport facilities.
"The width of two seaters in these mini buses is such it hardly accommodates one adult and a child. It becomes very difficult to accommodate two adults on these two seaters and most of the times the adults push each other in order to have a dominating position. I fail to understand who gave the nod for operation of these mini buses given the width of two seaters," said Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Buchpora. Although Tata Sumo service has been introduced on some of the routes in Srinagar city, however the number of such Tata Sumos is very less. As such they don't suffice to the needs of population located across the length and breadth of city. More so these Sumos are operating on very few routes thus leaving majority of population out of the fold. "It would be better for the government to introduce Tata Sumos on all the routes in Srinagar city. This would make the mini buses irrelevant and people generally would heave a sigh of relief. This would mean better transport facilities wherein people would complete their journey in less time as compared to the journey in the mini buses. The mini buses take 45-60 minutes for covering a distance of five kilometers while as same distance is covered by Tata Sumos in 10-15 minutes," said Shakeel Ahmad, a resident of Hyderpora. Overcharging by conductors of mini buses is yet another issue confronting the commuters in Srinagar. People as a general complain that conductors overcharge and demand more than rates as notified by the concerned department. They allege the conductors don't prescribe to the rate list and charge according to their own wish and whim. |
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