Further strengthen public transport system

Because of the increasing demand for  public transport services, more steps need to be taken to further strengthen it. The demand is not only in Srinagar city but also in other towns of Kashmir. During peak hours of morning and evening, commuters say they do not get the adequate transport.

The number of mini-buses and cabs operating prove insufficient because of the rush. The introduction of hi-tech electric buses brought some respite to passengers on some routes and large number of passengers are traveling in such buses. However, there is a need to get more such buses for more routes to bring further improvement in the public transport sector.

The private transporters too must play their role in addressing the problem of transport shortage on several routes. According to commuters the number of private mini-buses on a number of routes is very less.

These buses disappear immediately after sunset in winter. This causes chaos on the bus stops. Large number of passengers amid the rush can be seen struggling to get inside the vehicles and get the seats. While some are able to get inside others wait till next bus comes and the exercise continues.

It becomes difficult for them in the intense cold. Same is the case with commuters traveling in cabs operating on fixed routes. The private transporters must ensure that the buses and cabs are available on important routes till late evening hours, the way the electric buses ply.

There are also reports about some routes having unnecessarily more than required buses and cabs operating. Some of the vehicles should be diverted to routes having shortage of public transport.

There is also a need to strengthen the public transport services in towns also so that the passengers there do not face inconvenience, which they are facing now. Steps must be taken at government and private levels to solve the problems of commuters in view of the shortage of public transport.