Court orders sealing of Batamaloo Bus stand
After Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordered the government to seal the Western Bus Service (WBS) bus stand and remove encroachment in and around the terminal, the employees of the WBS lashed out at authorities saying that they have misled the court on the matter.
The officials at the WBS alleged that the newly constructed bus stand at Parimpora lacks the basic facilities like an office building, washrooms, and the overnight parking facilities.
“There is not a single room in Parimpora. Not even a single bathroom and they are asking us to prepare for immediate shifting,” Muhmmad Sultan, General Manager of WBS said.
The officials at WBS alleged that the designated bus stand at Parimpora is a flood prone area.
“Even a few hours of rain creates flood like the situation at the place,” Sultan said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Development Authorities and police officials today paid a visit to the Batamaloo bus stand and asked the transporters to remain ready for the evacuation without handling the court orders.
“We were informed through newspapers and early today when the SDA officials and police visited and asked us to remain prepared for the evacuation,” Bilal Ahmad, General Secretary WBS said.
“When we went to the court to get the yesterday’s order, we were asked to come after three days to get it,” Bilal added.
WBS has currently 64 employees working in the bus terminal and has four sub offices in Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara and Handwara. According to the officials of WBS, around 15 thousand passengers walk daily in and out of the Batamaloo bus stand.
“Some people stay here for the night. We have the infrastructure to accommodate them here but we don’t have any in Parimpora,” Bilal Ahmad said.
He said that there are only three passenger sheds are in the Parimpora and have no space for 800 vehicles.
Meanwhile, the shopkeepers at the bus stand fear that they will be left without any support if the transporters are shifted from the bus stand.
“There are around 2500 small shopkeepers working around the bus stand. We will be out of business if they shift the transporters from here,” Nisar Ahmad, President of the Shopkeepers Union Batamaloo WBS said.
He alleged that the government is using RSS plan to take the business community out on streets.
“They are forcing us to go against the law and pelt stones. They have a bus stand in the center of Jammu, why don’t they shift it,” he asks.
KV Correspondent
