Parimpora Bus Stand in shambles
Srinagar, Sep 7: Lack of basic facilities, particularly dilapidated roads and absence of a drainage system at Parimpora Bus Stand, are causing immense problems to passengers.
In a bid to decongest Srinagar, the Batamaloo Bus Stand was shifted to Parimpora in 2017. Authorities had announced that Parimpora Bus Stand will emerge as a modern transport hub. Despite the passing of eight years, Parimpora Bus Stand is dilapidated.
“Entering Parimpora Bus Stand is like a nightmare,” said Altaf Ahmad, a passenger, while pointing towards dilapidated roads and waterlogging, and garbage dumps.
“The bus stand remains packed beyond capacity, with buses parked haphazardly, vendors encroaching on yards. Even a few hours of rain submerges the entire bus stand. Passengers have to wade through mud and sewage,” said Ghulam Ahmad, an aged passenger.
“In no way does this look like a bus stand. There is not a single basic facility for passengers. This also gives a bad impression to tourists when they see dilapidated roads and waterlogging in the bus stand,” he added.
As compared to over 100 kanals at Batamaloo Bus Stand, Parimpora yard is situated on 60 kanals only. It is designed for fewer buses, but presently it has more buses than its capacity, leading to congestion.
In cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, or Bangalore, bus terminals are equipped with designated bays, food courts, sanitation facilities, digital ticketing, CCTV monitoring, and security checks. “But Parimpora Bus Stand has been totally neglected by the authorities. It's overcrowded, unhygienic, and unsafe. Instead of becoming a model transport hub, it has turned into a perfect example of official apathy,” rued Mehrajuddin, a passenger.
Several drivers also expressed their resentment over the lack of basic facilities at the yard. “Our vehicles frequently get damaged due to dilapidated roads and waterlogging. Some potholes have become craters…authorities don’t listen to our woes.”
Authorities had submitted a Detailed Project Report to the Government for the upgradation of infrastructure, like macadamisation, drainage system of the Parimpora yard, but it is yet to see the light of day. To mention, the ruling National Conference, which was in opposition in 2017, had strongly objected to the shifting of the Batamaloo Bus Stand to Parimpora, terming it a “historic blunder.” The party had advocated for the relocation of the bus stand to a more centrally located and well-equipped site, like Tattoo Ground, to solve the issue of both traffic and commuter inconvenience.
Passengers said that, amid unhygienic conditions, several food vendors operate in the bus stand. Locals said that in the absence of security measures, the bus stand has become a hub of drug addicts and thieves.
“What was once sold as a vision of progress has turned into a theatre of neglect — a place where livelihoods were buried, commuters are humiliated, and locals suffocate daily. Every bus that leaves Parimpora yard carries more than passengers — it carries the weight of broken promises and the silence of those who suffer.
By: Rumaisa Nazir
