DANISH GUL
BUDGAM
The relocation of Budgam bus stand has put inhabitants and commuters in central Kashmir’s district Budgam to inconvenience. The residents claim that the relocation of bus stand at Budgam is a “wrong decision” and “against the public” at large.
Shop owners and people are dependent on Budgam market, mostly located around old bus terminal, for business. The new bus stand is around 1.5 kms away.
The old bus terminal was centrally located with important administrative offices like DC office, high court, police station, etc. at a walking distance. “New terminal is almost 1.5 km’s away and who will walk this distance to reach various offices, I won’t!” said a resident of Ichahama, Manzoor Mir.
“Despite the new terminal, buses stop at the old terminal because all major ‘daily needs’ shops are located there,” said a school teacher, Iqbal Ahmad.
Splitting of traffic into two subordinate points had eradicated the traffic mess from the old terminal, but the confusion regarding a properly defined schedule of departure is still a problem in Budgam.
“New bus terminal is functional now. We shifted vehicles from old to new terminal in a phased manner, and so far we have achieved success in directing the traffic from there,” ARTO Budgam said. “Due to the presence of some important administrative offices near the old bus terminal, vehicles will have to stop there for passengers” he added.
“Somehow the terminal shift has brought relaxation for the people living near the old terminal, as they now have a free space to walk inside the market, but, traveling towards the adjoining areas is not properly governed and needs a review from the authorities,” people demanded.
