Traffic blues
Traffic management is still a challenge not only in Jammu and Srinagar cities but also on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Recently the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir reviewed the traffic management and gave several directions.
Hedirected the traffic authorities to make their checking methods more people friendly. He said that there should be no halting of buses at their will and these should stop only at designated locations. He said that wrong parking has to be dealt with strictly and any vehicle found wrongly parked should be towed away.
He inquired about the traffic arrangements for the upcoming AmarnathJi yatra and said that a proper plan should be framed to ensure smooth flow of traffic. He said that the coming months should not witness any traffic jams and all preparations have to be made in advance to plug any loopholes.
He enjoined upon the officers that the experience of yatris on pilgrimage and other tourists should be pleasant so that they promote Jammu and Kashmir as a tourism destination back home.
He asked the traffic department to hold a stakeholders consultation and formulate SOPs which all stakeholders comply with without need for coercive measures.
Under the Smart City Project, the authorities have installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other devices in Srinagar. The cameras have begun sending live video and photo feeds of traffic violations to a command and control centre.
