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| Brazen violation of traffic rules, cops mute spectators | | | SAHIL SHAHNAWAZ
Kishtwar Sept 3
There is brazen violation of traffic rules with cops watching all this like a mute spectator. The buses are plied by those who even do not possess the driving licenses. This all happens due to the connivance of the traffic cops who fail to act against the violators of law. The untrained and unlicensed drivers are allowed to ply the vehicles especially on such routes which are more prone to accidents and thus Traffic rules are blatantly violated by those who are supposed to get these implemented.
A cursory glance on Chahtroo (Chingam) road which is frequented by large number of people daily is a glaring example of traffic violation where buses are not only jam packed even the roof tops are full of passengers resulting into the frequent road accidents.
The overloading is not done only inside the vehicle but even roofs of the vehicles are used for accommodating extra passengers who could not find place inside the vehicles. Sources said there are few vehicles which are run by those drivers who have neither got any training nor possess the requisite driving licenses. No where on this route, overloading and driving licenses are cheeked by the traffic department and there is every apprehension of accidents which could not be ruled out. The over loading is not only on this route but it existed in other routes as well in the district which is mostly mountainous making driving a rough and tough.
It is pertinent to mention hare that several accidents have so far taken place on these routes due to overloading and negligence of drivers wherein scores of people have lost their life. After the occurrence of every accident authorities promise for checking of overloading but in few days they forget their promises. Despite Chief Minister’s clear cut directions to the traffic department to book the traffic violators but surprisingly the department concerned seems to be ignoring these directions at the cost of the lives of the people. Sources said that in many of the cases the Traffic Department officials have been hand in glove with the traffic violators on money consideration as they have been allowing overloading after getting hefty sums from the drivers.
When this correspondent undertook journey on this route, he found that majority of the buses were overloaded the reason being the shortage of buses as thousands of commuters travel on this route daily. Unmindful of traffic rules and taking advantage of shortage of buses on these routes, the drivers often take passengers double than the capacities which in many cases have proved fatal.
Besides this, on the routes of Kishtwar-Doda and Bhaderwah, the matadors and buses charge fare on their sweet will and the rates fixed by the government have remained simply on papers.
Talking to this corresponding Bashir Ahmed Kotwal, Community Health officer and Mohd Iqbal Zarger, Administrative Officer Auqaf Islamia Kishtwar said that vehicles charge Rs 35 from Kishtwar to Doda whereas actual charges are Rs 26. There are also certain instances wherein students are not getting concessions in the fares as they have to pay full fare like other passengers while going to schools and colleges.
The public from the areas of Chahtro, Chingam, Mugalmaidan, Padder, Palmar ,Thakrie, Thahtri, Prem- Nagar, Kishtwar Doda,Kandni and Sarthal have been demanding deployment of more buses in these areas to cope up with the rush of passengers as also minimize overloading besides setting up more check posts and reactivating the traffic department.
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