Demand for Srinagar-bound SRTC bus service from Handwara grows louder

Kupwara, Jun 13: Residents of Handwara and adjacent villages in north Kashmir's Kupwara district have urged concerned authorities to introduce a Srinagar-bound State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus service from Handwara Town so that people can avail the facility and are benefitted at large.

The residents said that despite Handwara being a major town catering to a large population from the surrounding areas, no SRTC bus service was operating directly from Handwara to Srinagar causing enduring hardships for the students, government employees, and patients traveling for medical consultations to Srinagar. "Only one private bus which leaves at 7:30 am from Handwara plies between Handwara and Srinagar and if anyone misses that bus, there is no other option left to board a Sumo and pay Rs 200 for one-way trip," a local from Banday Mohalla Handwara told Greater Kashmir.

"The bus which leaves at 7:30 am makes numerous halts at every passenger stop till it reaches Sopore thereby does not serve the purpose," he added.

"An SRTC bus from Vilgam to Srinagar does pass through the Main Town Handwara at 9 am but it always remain filled with passengers leaving no room for people in Handwara to board that bus. It would be better if an SRTC bus is introduced from Handwara. The initiative will certainly ease out the sufferings of common people," said Irfan Hassan from Herpora Handwara. The residents said that despite repeated representations to the concerned officials, no conceret step has been taken so far in this regard. "We have raised this issue several times with the transport authorities, but nothing has been done to address our demand," they added. The residents have sought immediate intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan in this regard and urged her to facilitate the introduction of a regular SRTC bus service from Handwara to Srinagar.

Meanwhile, Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone acknowledged the hardships of common people in absence of an SRTC bus service from Handwara. "I will take up the issue with the concerned authorities and hopefully a bus service will be introduced very soon," he told Greater Kashmir.