Danishwar Hameed
Nearly two years after the bus stand in Kulgam town was shifted to an alternate location, traders in Kulgam town observed a shutdown to protest the losses suffered by them.
Eyewitnesses told The Kashmiriyat that on Wednesday, shops in the south Kashmir town remained shut to protest against the shifting of the decades-old bus stand to an alternative location in the district.
Nearly two years ago, the Kulgam district administration shifted the bus stand in the south Kashmir town to Chawalgam, stating that the move was intended to decongest the town.
Authorities had, in 2022, stated that the move was intended to ease traffic congestion in the town center and improve overall transportation efficiency.
However, as was evident, the traders and other members of the community bore the brunt of the decision. Not only did the move decongest the town, but it also deserted the streets, leaving shopkeepers with dwindling business.
On Wednesday morning, locals staged a protest against the relocation of the main bus stand from Kulgam town to Chawalgam, Kulgam.
Local shopkeepers believe that the move has adversely affected their businesses and disrupted daily activities in the town.
“Moving the bus stand has led to a significant drop in foot traffic, which is vital for our livelihoods,” said a local shopkeeper.
“We urge the authorities to reconsider this decision and engage with us in dialogue to find a better solution. We don’t understand why locals are not onboard with the decisions taken in Kashmir,” he said.
Shopkeepers said that the shift has led to a decline in sales and negatively impacted the local economy.
In response to the protests by the Kulgam Shopkeepers Association regarding the relocation of the main bus stand, Tehsildar Bilal Ahmad addressed the concerns during the interaction.
He clarified that the bus stand had already been moved two years ago to alleviate traffic congestion in Kulgam town.
Bilal Ahmad explained that the decision was made after consultations with various stakeholders, including local businesses and residents.
“The relocation aimed to improve accessibility and manage traffic flow effectively,” he stated, adding that the administration understands the shopkeepers’ concerns and values their input.
The Tehsildar emphasized that the administration is open to engaging in further negotiations with the Shopkeepers Association in the coming days to discuss their grievances and explore possible solutions.