Uri-Srinagar bus service eases commuting woes for residents

Uri, May 12: Residents of border town Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have expressed their excitement over the recent non-stop bus service from Uri to Srinagar.

Locals particularly government employees and patients are breathing a sigh of relief as they had to face a lot of hardships in reaching Srinagar.

The bus departs at 7 am from Uri and arrives at 9.30 am in Srinagar. In the evening, it returns at 3.30 pm and reaches Uri around 6.30 pm.

“Our long pending demand has been finally addressed by the concerned officials. We reach our duties in time now,” said a Power Development Department (PDD) employee.

Another employee working in the Labour Department in Srinagar said, “This non-stop bus service has given us a much-needed relief. We can return home on the same day which is highly commendable.”

Imran Ahmad, a local of main town Uri mentioned that patients are now able to reach Srinagar or Baramulla hospitals on time. “Previously, one would have to wait for hours to find a bus. But this bus has a fixed time to depart and return which is beneficial for locals to reach their destinations on time,” he said.

Locals have urged the concerned authorities to introduce more such buses on the route for different times. “We request to start an early morning bus service from Srinagar to Uri and vice versa, especially those wishing to see Kaman Post. This will also boost the tourism industry in Uri,” said Altaf Ahmad, another local.

Fayaz Ahmad Mir, Vice-President Western Bus Stand Baramulla said that people of Uri are happy now. “This was their long-standing demand and finally it has been addressed,” he said.

However, locals have sought movement of this bus till Jahangir Chowk for the convenience of the employees and patients rather than making it stop at Parimpora bus stand.

Responding to this Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir, Shahnawaz Bukhari said, “This decision falls with the traffic police Srinagar.”

A senior traffic police official in Srinagar told Greater Kashmir that the movement of buses can’t be allowed till Jahangir Chowk. “It will be a violation of the court orders,” he said.