As the sun sets over Srinagar, hundreds of daily commuters are left stranded due to the lack of public transport services on several key city routes during evening hours. The problem has become a daily ordeal for office-goers, students, and elderly citizens who depend on local minibuses and shared cabs to return home.
Residents from areas such as Batamaloo, Dalgate, Lal Chowk, and Soura complain that public transport virtually disappears after 6:30 PM, forcing many to walk long distances or rely on expensive auto-rickshaws and private transport.
“I finish my shift at 7 PM, but by then there are hardly any minibuses going towards HMT,” said Aamir Hussain, a private employee. “I often end up waiting for over an hour or walking halfway home.”
Students also echoed similar concerns. Nusrat Jan, a university student who travels daily from Zakura to Lal Chowk, said the situation is getting worse. “There’s no reliable transport in the evenings. It’s risky, especially for women,” she said.
Public transport operators cite various reasons for the shortage, including low passenger turnout in the evening, traffic congestion, and lack of security. However, locals argue that it's a civic failure and demand intervention from the Transport Department.
“The government needs to ensure evening bus services are available on all major routes,” said Ghulam Qadir, a retired school teacher. “Public transport should not be treated as a daytime-only service.”
Transport authorities have yet to respond formally to the growing public outcry, but sources indicate that discussions are underway to extend service hours and introduce route monitoring to assess the issue.
Meanwhile, commuters continue to bear the brunt of an unreliable system that fails them at the hour they need it the most.