J&K roads in a jam as traffic increases

Srinagar's roads, big and small, are getting jammed, with highways in Kashmir having got expanded by just 10 per cent and the vehicular population increasing by 15 per cent. This is despite the intervention by the Srinagar High Court.

The vehicular population has significantly increased in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 10 years, from over 100,000 vehicles in the mid-nineties to about 200,000 in 2000. Buses, mini-buses and trucks maintain a steady growth while there is enormous increase in private cars and two-wheelers with over 15 percent yearly growth.

Off late, sports utility vehicles and luxury cars are also making their presence felt in Jammu and Kashmir.

One of the main factors attributed to the growth of transport industry is the liberal car financing by the J&K Bank Ltd. The simple car financing scheme of the Bank has helped middle class to own a car.

According to J&K Bank officials, the Bank's car finances have crossed Rs 100 crore. These officials say that there are no defaulters. Besides car loans by banks, revival of tourism has also contributed to the growth of light vehicles.

But the growth in vehicle industry has increased pressure on roads and highways stepping up road accidents. Surprisingly, there has been only 16 per cent increase in road length in the atate as against 40 per cent increase in vehicles in last 10 years.

"This is a city of traffic jams and gridlocks. Surprisingly, everywhere the roads are widened and here road width shrinks due to encroachments and government apathy to modernise them," remarks Bashir Ahmed, a social activist.

Even as the state government in its initiative to address frequent traffic jams constructed a 370-metre flyover on Srinagar city's most busy road leading to Civil Secretariat, but it has not solved the purpose by and large as the other connected roads to it are yet to be expanded.

On the other hand, traders have sought revision of government ban on the entry of heavy vehicles in summer capital Srinagar during daytime.

Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) has urged the government to convene an emergency session of state assembly to pass a legislation to regulate overall traffic system.

KTMF president M S Baqal said that the order was forcing traders to remain at their godowns and shops for the whole night waiting for getting the stocks. "General public also suffers due to this ruling as people who are constructing their houses have to stay at the construction spots to receive the building materials," he said.