The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has failed to upgrade basic facilities at Pantha Chowk bus stand much to the dismay of passengers.
JKNS has learnt that from the past 5-7 years, there has been no development in the bus stand with commuters and drivers facing trouble due to the absence of basic facilities.
President Khonmoh Sumo Drivers Association, Shahmeem Ahmad said that they were facing many problems including lack of public washrooms and streetlights. “Drinking water facility is not available and no public washroom is functional,” he said.
Ahmad said the lack of improper drainage system results in the water-logging of the stand even there is light rainfall. “It is difficult for the passengers to walk during rainfall as every part of the area gets waterlogged,” she said.
Due to lack of dustbins, passengers and hawkers are forced to throw the trash in the open. Manzoor Ahmad, a local said there are no dustbins available in the main bus stand and streetlights are also lacking.
A commuter from Awantipora said due to lack of public washrooms in the bus stand people are forced to defecate in the open. However, an official of SMC said the public washroom constructed at the bus stand would be functional soon.
“The washroom was lacking water supply which had been installed and now it would be ready for use,” he said. Regarding streetlights, he said installation of lights would be started in the next week. (JKNS)