Suhail Rather
Bandipora, 04 Sep (KNS) : Traffic movement in Bandipora's main market has come under severe strain, with locals alleging that unauthorised auto stands, unregistered battery-operated autos, roadside fruit and vegetable carts, fish vendors, and encroachments by shopkeepers have turned the busy commercial hub into a daily traffic bottleneck.
Residents said the situation has worsened considerably, with battery-operated autos allegedly occupying designated parking spaces and road stretches, while autos are also being parked at several points, leaving little space for the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
Adding to the congestion, several shopkeepers have allegedly extended their business activities beyond their premises by displaying merchandise on footpaths and portions of the roadside. Locals said this has effectively reduced the space available for pedestrians and forced people to walk along busy roads, further complicating traffic movement.
Residents questioned why such encroachments continue unchecked and alleged that there appears to be little or no regular enforcement against shopkeepers occupying public footpaths. They said footpaths are meant for pedestrians, but in several stretches of the market they have effectively been turned into extensions of commercial establishments.
The absence of adequate traffic regulation has further aggravated the situation. Locals alleged that no traffic personnel are regularly deployed at crucial points of the main market during peak hours, while there appears to be no effective mechanism to prevent illegal parking, roadside encroachments and unauthorised auto stands.
The congestion becomes particularly severe during peak hours, when Tata buses and other passenger vehicles entering the market are reportedly forced to remain stuck for long periods. Residents said a journey that would ordinarily take around five minutes can sometimes take more than half an hour because of the traffic bottlenecks.
Locals have also raised concerns over the presence of fish vendors on both sides of the roads despite the availability of a designated market for fisherwomen. According to residents, vendors occupying road margins leave inadequate space for vehicles to pass and contribute significantly to traffic jams.
Similarly, fruit and vegetable sellers operating from roadside carts have been blamed for further narrowing the already congested roads.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelResidents maintained that vending is an important source of livelihood, but insisted that vendors should be shifted to designated spaces without obstructing roads and pedestrian movement.
Irfan Ahmad, a resident, questioned the apparent lack of enforcement despite the availability of municipal resources. “If the Municipal Council has a towing vehicle, why can’t it be utilised effectively? Why can’t employees be assigned duties to remove fruit and vegetable sellers from the main road and ensure that designated spaces are properly used?” he asked.
Residents also questioned the continued occupation of parking slots by battery-operated autos, saying that designated parking areas are increasingly being used as informal auto stands rather than serving their intended purpose.
The issue, locals said, is no longer confined to inconvenience. The prolonged traffic jams can create serious difficulties for ambulances, fire services and other emergency vehicles attempting to pass through the market.
Residents have appealed to Deputy Commissioner Bandipora to personally intervene and direct the Traffic Police, Municipal Council and other concerned agencies to undertake a coordinated enforcement drive.
They demanded identification and removal of unauthorised auto stands, verification of battery-operated autos, regulation of parking, clearance of roadside vending from traffic lanes, removal of commercial encroachments from footpaths and strict enforcement against vehicles and establishments occupying public spaces.
Locals also called for regular deployment of traffic personnel at key points during peak hours and proper utilisation of the designated fish, fruit and vegetable markets so that vendors can continue their livelihood without obstructing public roads.
They said the authorities must adopt a permanent traffic-management and encroachment-control plan rather than relying on occasional drives.
With Bandipora main market witnessing heavy movement of Tata buses, autos, private vehicles and pedestrians every day, residents said immediate and sustained action is needed to restore orderly traffic movement and ensure that public roads and footpaths remain accessible to everyone. (KNS)
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