Lack of designated stops for e-buses takes toll on passengers

Srinagar, Dec 8: Failure of authorities to provide designated stops for e-buses in the summer capital are taking toll on passengers.

In a bid to strengthen the public transport system in Srinagar, the authorities launched the Smart City buses with much fanfare. Although the passengers say that it has augmented the public transport system, they decry that a host of issues are taking the sheen off this important service for Srinagarites.

The passengers said that lack of designated bus stops for e-buses has become a major bottleneck in Srinagar. They said the issue is not only affecting passengers but also hindering traffic flow.

“The red buses have become obstacles on roads in absence of designated stops. If this was not enough, these buses are making stops every few meters, which are hindering traffic and also increasing risk of accidents,” Bashir Malik, a commuter, said, adding the issue will be resolved if authorities develop dedicated bus stops.

Some passengers also claimed that amid the already existing issues, these buses sometimes break down, which not only creates inconvenience to passengers but also hits vehicular movement.

“I several times saw that e-buses broke down in the middle of the road. Recently, many such incidents occurred in the city centre and other places. Amid the freezing temperature, there need for proper maintenance of e-buses so that passengers don’t suffer and traffic is not hindered,” said Waseem Bhat, a passenger.

Many passengers said that they want the operations to be streamlined in a better way. The aggrieved said that sometimes the routes are full with e-buses and there are hardly any smart buses in other areas. A group of passengers from Harwan said that they have faced operational issues after sunset and were left stranded.

“A few weeks back, over a dozen passengers were waiting e-buses for Harwan at Dalgate. The e-buses sometimes don’t follow the schedule. We had to make several calls to officials. We want authorities to ensure proper operations, especially during peak hours. There are also many routes that don’t have a smart city service, and the same should be launched,” said a passenger from Harwan.

Several videos surfaced on social media in which commuters claimed that bus drivers are overlooking traffic rules and hindering the flow of traffic. In one of the recent videos, commuters were seen confronting the driver, accusing him of driving on the wrong side of the road in Downtown.

“Traffic rules are for everyone, and most of the time, these buses don’t follow the rules, taking a toll on us,” Irfan Ahmed, a commuter at Khanyar, said.

An official who has worked closely on the Smart City projects said that the project of designated bus stops is in the pipeline.

“These projects will streamline the operations, and this will be better for public transport and commuters too. As far as the breaking down of buses is concerned, we have been continuously carrying out maintenance to ensure smooth service,” said the official.