Shopkeepers continue to occupy roads, commuters forced to walk on middle of roads
Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Sep 25 :
There is no let-up in shopkeepers occupying all major roads in northern Sopore resulting in a great inconvenience to public movement.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the commuters said that they are facing huge inconveniences while walking through the streets especially the one leading to the general bus stand and to Jamia Masjid – connecting the town with adjacent villages so as with the Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.
“The shopkeepers putting their items/stalls in front of their shops, covering main roads are a common scene in Sopore. Besides, vehicle owners park their vehicles along the roadside like hell, once stuck in a traffic snarl, it takes time to get out of that,” said a student Athar, who used to travel along Jamia road daily.
“Being a student of Sopore college, I have been traveling across the streets from the last 2-years and have never witnessed a smooth flow of traffic alongside as shopkeepers have become hindrance so as the shoppers who used to park their vehicles on roads,” Athar said.
Pertinently, authorities earlier claimed of banning the traditional horse-carts within the municipal limits of this north Kashmir town for the purpose of decongestion, as they believe Tongas were the primary source for frequent jams in the town. However, Tongas continue to move around freely.
Similarly, another move was taken against the street vendors who usually used to occupy main roads and the vendors were removed from the main road bringing respite from the inconveniences being faced by the commuters for some time. However, yet again, after a gap, shopkeepers started to occupy the roads.
“We fail to understand why authorities who were so adamant on removal of street vendors are failing in removing encroachment by the shopkeepers,” said a senior citizen.
Another local said: “The administration is watching as a mute spectator over the illegal encroachment of roads and footpaths by the shopkeepers. It seems they have given free hand to the shopkeepers to occupy the roads.”—(KNO)