Authorities close illegal crossover at Bemina

Srinagar, Nov 27: A day after this newspaper highlighted the risk to commuters due to an illegal crossover at Bemina near the Children’s Hospital, authorities swung into action and sealed the pathway.

Officials said that early morning, men and machinery were pressed into service to barricade the divider gap that commuters had been using to make dangerous crossovers to the opposite carriageway. Officials said the crossover had become a major threat to road safety, particularly during peak hours, when scores of two-wheelers, rickshaws, and even passenger vehicles would take the risky shortcut to avoid a distant U-turn.

To mention, the move came less than 24 hours after Greater Kashmir’s report on Wednesday exposed how the spot had turned

near-misses and posing a danger to high-speed traffic on the busy highway that caters to ambulances, hospital attendants, and heavy vehicles.

Residents and attendants at the Children’s Hospital expressed gratitude over the prompt response. “This was a ticking time bomb. Every day, we saw bikes slipping and vehicles abruptly cutting across traffic. Closing this point was the need of the hour, and we thank the administration for acting quickly,” said Faizan Ahmad, an attendant.

Another commuter, Ishfaq Shah, said the intervention has brought a sense of relief. “People had flattened the divider surface to pave the way for motorcycles and autos. It was chaos, and an accident could happen at any moment. We appreciate that the authorities finally closed it.”

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, SSP Traffic Srinagar, Ajaz Ahmad, said the department acted immediately after learning about the issue. “We pressed our men and machinery into service and ensured that the illegal crossing was shut. We are always watchful and committed to public safety. When such dangerous spots are brought to our notice, we act promptly,” he said.