Absence of designated bus stops for e-buses pesters passengers in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 15: Passengers have expressed resentment against the lack of designated bus stops for Smart buses saying this causes inconvenience to them.

Passengers said that in the absence of bus stops drivers of e-buses make frequent stops after a few meters, leading to traffic jams and even causing accidents. Many commuters said that during peak hours, it gets difficult for them to reach their respective destinations because they get stuck between the buses, which make countless stops while ferrying the passengers.

The passengers said that designated bus stops are the need of the hour. In the absence of designated bus stops, passengers wait outside their homes or office to board buses. “If there were dedicated bus stops, people would assemble at one point and buses would not have to make frequent stops. This issue also consumes our time and affects the traffic movement, too,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a passenger.

The locals said the buses are equipped with smart applications, and the authorities are also promising all the facilities. However, they said these buses are operating in an old way defeating the objective of e-buses.

“If these government-run buses operate like private cabs and buses, what is the purpose of having these? We are benefiting from them, but it should not come at the cost of creating a traffic mess in the city,” said another commuter.

Greater Kashmir did a series of stories on the issue, and the officials said that the bus stops would be built especially for these buses. However, on the ground, there is no such sign.

The commuters appealed to the authorities to ensure designated bus stops on all routes especially Downtown areas so that smooth traffic flow is ensured. An official of SSCL said the process is on to set up designated bus stops on all routes .