Lack of designated bus stops for e-buses add to traffic jams

Srinagar, Oct 20: The much-hyped Smart City bus service, launched to modernise Srinagar’s public transport system, is facing criticism due to lack of designated bus stops continues to choke the city’s roads and cause inconvenience to commuters.

A group of aggrieved passengers in Srinagar said that instead of easing the flow of public transport, the e-buses have turned into a traffic-choking points, while halting unpredictably along key routes and bringing traffic to a crawl.

“Every few hundred meters, a red bus just pulls over wherever it finds space. These buses were meant to bring order to city transport, but without bus stops, they are only adding to the chaos,” said Faiq Ahmad, a commuter.

Srinagarites decry that from Lal Chowk to Downtown, and further along the busy Nishat and Boulevard stretches, the problem is especially acute. They said narrow roads and peak rush hours have compounded the congestion. Commuters say the situation is no different in the interiors, where the buses make stops on main carriageways, forcing vehicles behind them to a standstill.

“At times, it feels like these buses themselves have become stop signs. They halt in the middle of the road, and passengers scramble to get in or out, while traffic piles up instantly,” said another commuter.

Traffic officials admit that the absence of proper halts is creating operational and safety concerns. They say frequent halts not only slow down movement but also increase the risk of accidents in busy stretches.

Locals point out that despite the buses being equipped with GPS and modern tracking systems, they operate without a structured plan. “They may be called Smart City buses, but where is the smart infrastructure?” questioned Umar Hassan, a resident of  Nishat.

Locals say that the chaos worsens during peak hours as these buses stop along narrow roads, leaving little room for other vehicles.

An official associated with the Smart City project acknowledged the problem. He said that a plan for permanent bus stops was in the pipeline for a long and now the project has made progress.

“The project will start soon, and dozens of bus stops will be developed. This will ensure that passengers feel at ease while boarding buses and at the same time the issue of haphazard halts will be addressed,” he said.