Baramulla Admin’s order designating approach road to GMC as no parking zone gets flagrantly violated

Baramulla, Jan 3: Days after Baramulla district magistrate issued an order declaring the road stretch from National Highway crossing to Government Medical College Baramulla as “No Parking Zone” in pursuance of section 122 of Motor Vehicle Act 1988, the order has not been implemented on ground, with the result the illegal parking besides street vendors’ presence continue to hinder the smooth transportation of the patients to the associated hospital GMC Baramulla.

As per the order, the Station House Officer Baramulla has been directed to implement the order in letter and spirit. Earlier Tehsildar Baramulla and Executive Officer MC Baramulla had been directed to undertake a joint visit of the road stretch to render assistance to concerned SHO during morning hours to ensure implementation of this order.

As per the order issued by the Baramulla district magistrate, the entire road stretch from National Highway crossing to GMC Baramulla was declared as “No Parking Zone” in pursuance of Section 122 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Section 144 CrPC.

However, two weeks on, the residents say that the order is not implemented in letter and spirit as none from the implementing agencies including police, Municipal Council officials and the revenue staff bother to implement the order.

“The implementing agencies need to ensure that the order is implemented so that it can pave the way for the smooth entry of vehicles carrying patients and ambulances to the hospital,” said Muhammad Ishfaq, an attendant.

The order was issued following frequent complaints by the visitors to the hospital that the approach road to the Government Medical College Baramulla from the National Highway often remains blocked due to the illegal parking on the road. The presence of too many street vendors on the approach road causes severe inconvenience to the patients as well as to ambulances, the complaints noted.

“The issue has become a nuisance and has many a times invited criticism from attendants of the patients in particular and public in general,” reads the order.

Fayaz Ahmad, one of the attendants of a patient,  said that the entire approach road from the highway to the hospital is often filled with vehicles parked haphazardly on either side of the road. He said besides illegal car parking, the street vendors also lay their wares on the road which further hinders the smooth passage of vehicles including those ferrying passengers.

“The order once implemented properly will be a huge relief to the patients and their attendants. The implementing officials need to act on the order and provide big relief to the patients as well as attendants,” added Fayaz.