Suhail Dar
The Deputy administration of Anantnag district in south Kashmir has come up with several measures to prevent the traffic chaos in Anantnag town- one of the most prominent townships of the valley, visited by thousands of people every day from all parts of the valley.
The order which has restricted the parking of vehicles anywhere in the main town stretch from to Mehandi Kadal to Janglat Mandi is being welcomed by the residents of the Anantnag town. Transporters Associations and Traders have expressed their thankfulness to the district administration and expressed hope that the order will be followed in letter and spirit.
“Thousands of people visit the town every day for business, religious and cultural along with other purposes. The economy of the town should not slow down. Trade should be availed hassle-free in the town and the trade must be inclusive of the poor, the street vendors and everyone else. It is unfortunate to see that there has been a massive degradation of this historical town, which is houses to prominent temples, mosques, hospitals when it should have been promoted,” said Gull Mohammed, a local shopkeeper.
He said that the administration needs to work for the development of the town and the measure of imposing traffic restrictions is an important one. “Now the district administration should focus on excelling the trade and promoting culturally important places including the springs including Malaknag Andarnag, Jamia Masjid, Reshmoul sahab, Sherbagh,” he said.
South Kashmir Transporters Association expressed their thankfulness to the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner Anantnag. Shabir Ahmed, the spokesperson of the association speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that this is the first time that any DC has taken up such an initiative to contain the traffic chaos in the town.
“Anantnag District strategically being the Gateway of Kashmir with a National Highway and various other inter-state, inter & intra-district roads pass through this district and generates excessive traffic in the town especially during peak hours which results in the congestion of roads in the district in general and Anantnag town in particular and in order to streamline the traffic and to prevent traffic jams in Anantnag town,” read the order of the DM Anantnag.
In his order, he said that a number of measures have been taken in the past viz construction of Multi-Level Car Parking at Janglat Mandi Anantnag, new taxi-stand at Ashajipora, Town Vending Zones for street vendors and complete ban on parking of vehicles on roadside particularly from Khanabal Chowk to Janglat Mandi road stretch.
“The aforementioned road stretch is one of the busiest roads as it leads to two leading government hospitals (District Hospital Janglat Mandi & MCCH Sherbagh) which cater to the patients of District Anantnag and other neighboring Districts of both Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, thus ensuring smooth traffic is not only the topmost priority but utmost urgency as most of the times ambulances carrying patients get stuck in the traffic jam from Mehandi Kadal upto Janglat Mandi/Sher Bagh and as a result are not able to reach the health facilities well in time”, remarked the order.
“In order to avoid traffic jam and save precious lives, the road leading from Mehandi Kadal to Janglatmandi was already declared as a “No Parking Zone”; and frequent traffic jams and choking of roads within the town especially from Mehndi Kadal to Janglat Mandi stretch still happen due to illegal parking of vehicles and unregulated plying of passenger vehicles.”
“In order to streamline the traffic movement in the town, it is hereby ordered that; All the Light Passenger Vehicles and Heavy Motor Vehicles are hereby restricted to ply from Mehandi Kadal to Janglat Mandi road stretch w.e.f. 1st June 2023 and shall henceforth operate through Ashajipora-Mehandi Kadal new bypass road,” the order read.
The admin has notified that Heavy Motor Vehicles/Light Goods Vehicle shall not be allowed to enter Mehandi Kadal – Janglat Mandi road stretch except before 07:00 am and after 07:00 pm.
“No Entry of Trucks shall be enforced by DySP Traffic, ARTO and CEO MC Anantnag on Mir Bazar-Ashajipora road stretch except before 07:00 am and after 07:00 pm; and No Parking Zone of Mehandi Kadal-Janglat Mandi road stretch shall be strictly ensured. No parking of vehicles in front of shops will be allowed and only designated parking places shall be used”, officials said.
“In case any violation is observed, the concerned shopkeeper shall be personally held responsible and fined accordingly,” the DC Anantnag said in his order.
The illegally parked and seized vehicles shall be retained on top floor of Multilevel Car Parking at Janglat Mandi and parking fee for detention period shall be charged from offenders, reads the official order.
Displaying of prominent signages at all the parking spaces within the Anantnag town shall be ensured by CEO MC Anantnag; Non-Vending Zone of Mehandi Kadal-Janglatmandi road stretch shall be strictly enforced by DySP Traffic & CEO MC Anantnag, who shall also ensure that the pedestrian pathway/footpath shall remain free from all the encroachments for smooth mobility of passersby; Traffic Police shall identify unnecessary crossings/junctions on all the roads with MC Anantnag and same shall be closed by way of barricades/courtesy; R&B Department & MC Anantnag shall ensure closure of unnecessary U-Turns from Khanabal-Ashajipora & Khanabal Sarnal road stretches
The details of violators and the fine collected from them shall be reported to this office on daily basis; Nodal Officer (ARTO) Anantnag in coordination with DySP Traffic Police & Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council Anantnag shall ensure total compliance to these directions, the order reads.
“Stakeholder departments (Traffic Police, ARTO Anantnag & CEO MC Anantnag) shall spare a sufficient number of personnel for effective management of the traffic in the Town”, the order reads further.