Inaction on road encroachments leaves GMC Baramulla patients stranded

Baramulla, Nov 2: Despite the repeated concern of the patients and their attendants over the encroachment on the approach road leading to Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla from the highway, the Baramulla district administration continues to brush aside the issue.

Irked over the administration’s silence, the residents of Baramulla sought immediate intervention of the higher-ups in removing the encroachment which has become a big obstacle in the smooth transportation of patients to the GMC Baramulla-associated hospital.

Following hue and cry over the issue by the people of Baramulla town and members of the civil society, the officials of the Baramulla district administration, several months back, issued an order declaring the road stretch from the National Highway crossing to Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla as “No Parking Zone” in pursuance of Section 122 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.

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

“The Station House Officer Baramulla is directed to implement the order in letter and spirit. Besides, Tehsildar Baramulla and Executive Officer MC Baramulla are directed to undertake a joint visit of the road stretch to help the concerned SHO during morning hours to ensure implementation of this order,” reads the order issued a few months back by the officials of the Baramulla district administration.

However, months on, the order remained confined to the corridors of the district administration and awaited implementation, leaving the visitors to the associated hospital government medical college Baramulla in distress.

Encouraged by the noncompliance of the order, the approach road is not only dotted with illegal car parking but several street vendors have now permanently come up with their stalls and they also lay their wares on the road, thereby chocking the road stretch completely with the result the smooth passage of vehicles including those ferrying passengers becomes extremely difficult.

“It is tough to cross the chocked road stretch,” said Fayaz Ahmad, whose wife is hospitalised for surgery.

Following the chocking of the road stretch, vehicles carrying patients to the hospital, often end up in a heated exchange of words with the encroachers, which further hinders the smooth movement of the vehicles.

Musadiq Ahmad, a visitor to the hospital on Friday, said that it was unfortunate that the authorities are unable to set the approach road free from the encroachers.

He said that the visitors to the hospital are often stressed due to the ailment and when they cannot find smooth entry to the hospital, it irks them.

“It is a grave issue concerning people from all walks of life,” Musadiq said. “If the authorities are unable to set the approach road free from the street vendors, and illegal parking, it shows a lack of commitment on their part.”