| Early start of direct Bus Service from Jammu to Kakryal demands PHDCCI,HRAK | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 20: PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu Region Chapter ( PHDCCIJR) & Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra (HRAK) in a joint meeting held here today demanded that a direct Bus Service from Jammu to Kakryal is the need of hour because daily commuters are forced to switch two to three vehicles to reach Narayana Hospital and Shrine Board University.
Rakesh Wazir Chairman PHDCCIJR & President HRAK while speaking on the occasion said that while the government continues to promote slogans like "Healthcare for All" and "Education at Every Doorstep,"whereas the ground reality tells a different story just 45 kilometers away from Jammu, Kakryal, home to two of the region's most important institutions - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and SMVD University are still not connected to Jammu by any direct public bus service and as a result Commuters, including poor patients and university students, are compelled to change at least two to three different vehicles daily to reach their destination - a situation that has remained unchanged for years.
Shyam Lal Kesar Chairman HRAK while speaking on the occasion said that every day, hundreds of patients, many of them from underprivileged backgrounds using the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, travel to Narayana Hospital for treatment. Ironically, their struggle begins not at the hospital gate, but on the road to it. First, they take a local bus or matador from Jammu to Domel, followed by a mini-bus toward Katra, and then finally another mini-bus to Kakryal. This inconvenient and tiring journey becomes even more painful when a patient is elderly, disabled, or in critical condition.
He said that currently, this entire route is operated by only 3-4 minibuses, with irregular timing and excessive crowding. Many patients are forced to stand throughout the journey.
He questioned that "Can a heart patient stand through three bumpy mini-bus rides just to reach the hospital?
He further said that students studying at SMVD University are also facing severe transport challenges. Those coming from Jammu, Samba, and Kathua,Katra,Suketar have no choice but to take multiple connecting vehicles every day. Students report that this exhausting commute saps their energy before classes even begin, and ultimately hampers their academic performance. Even university staff and faculty are not spared from this logistical hardship.
Virender Kesar Sr. Vice President HRAK while speaking on the occasion said that keeping in view the difficulties of people an immediate launch of a dedicated daily bus service from Jammu to Kakryal with route like like Ambphalla, Panjtirthi, Sidhra Bypass, Domel, Kakryal (SMVDU and Narayana Hospital) with departure at 7.30 AM, 3.30 PM etc. and return from Kakryal to Jammu at 9.15 Am,5.30 PM respectively be started and likewise from Katra to Kakryal too be started.
The meeting among others was attended by Ajay Kotwal,Vivek Sharma, Sudershan Sharma, Ramneek Nawada etc.
|
|
