Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: The High Court today directed the Inspector General of Police (Traffic) J&K to report to the Court the hiccups which his department is facing in regulating the free flow of traffic in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hearing the PIL on traffic management in UT of J&K, the Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice D S Thakur after perusal of compliance reports of various departments, sought a report from IGP (Traffic) J&K indicating therein as to what difficulties the Department of Traffic is facing in regulating the free flow of traffic in J&K. “The report must also include his suggestions that he feels should be adopted towards resolving the traffic mismanagement”, read the direction.
Imposing complete ban on 15-25-year-old commercial vehicles, the authorities have submitted that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a scheme under the name “Transport Subsidy Scheme for replacement of 15-year-old vehicles (Buses and Mini Buses)” and the owner of the bus or mini bus who is willing to replace his 15 years old vehicle can avail the benefit of Rs 5 lakh subsidy and so far 71 of such owners have applied under the scheme.
It was further stated in the report that the Government is introducing e-Rickshaws for operation in Jammu and Srinagar cities. The DB directed the compliance report regarding the directions shall be submitted from all the areas of J&K.
The respondents, court further directed to implement on ground the scheme by giving a wide publicity in the print and electronic media so that people come to know about it and avail the benefit. “The compliance report must indicate in detail as to what steps have been taken and what is status of introducing the e-Rickshaws in the Jammu and Srinagar Cities”, read the order.
On the issue of public and private parking of the vehicles, court has been informed that 16 roadside parking slots have been identified by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to be allowed for use of parking vehicles.
Meantime, Court allowed the roadside parking at seven places from Linz Restaurant to CID Headquarters, Linz Restaurant to SSP Traffic Office between Chinars, in front of Sher-e-Kashmir Park, from Tao Restaurant to General Post Office, Press Enclave parking, single lane opposite Pratap Park, single lane parking Near Deputy Commissioner’s Office and Dharamarth Trust Office to BSNL Office KothiBagh.
“Let the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and the District Magistrate, Srinagar, file their compliance in this behalf by the next date”, the court directed.
Court with regard to existing parking sites as indicated by the Divisional Commissioner in his report, for their re-designation as hourly and day parking slots, said those may be continued by ensuring that the parking charges are enhanced and regulated after following the codal formalities.
The 28 sites have also been identified and for their development as new parking slots still leave many areas of the Srinagar City unattended. Therefore, while taking on record the 28 identified sites, court directed the Divisional Commissioner and all concerned authorities to ensure that these sites are developed as such with promptitude after following the due procedure of law. “Additionally, we direct the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to identify more sites for parking of vehicles in the left out areas of Srinagar city and Rural Areas”, the Court added.
Due to shortage of parking space in the High Court Complex, the DB felt it necessary to request the Chief Secretary of J&K, to explore the possibility of handing over the evacuee property premises land behind the Advocate General’s office for its use as parking space by the High Court.
The Court while considering the matter was inclined to extend the scope of the directions to the Jammu region also which is witnessing the traffic chaos equally. However, the same was deferred at the request of counsel appearing for Government, which who assured that necessary measures would be taken in Jammu as well to see that the Jammu City is also relieved of the traffic chaos.
“Let he, shall do the needful till next date and apprise the court about the preparedness of the officers to deal with the issue in Jammu city vis-à-vis implementation of the directions passed by this Court for the Kashmir Division. B A Dar, Sr. AAG, shall file his report in this behalf by or before the next date of hearing”, the court recorded in the order.
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