The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry held an interactive meeting with Mr. Tahir Saleem Khan SSP Traffic, Srinagar and Mr. Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, Additional SP Traffic at the Chamber Office yesterday the 16th of November, 2017. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Nasir Hamid Khan, Sr. Vice President and had representatives of Poloview Traders Association, Residency Road & The Bund Association, Lambert Lane Traders Association, Fairdealers Market Association, Hari Singh High Street Association, Karan Nagar and others.
Problems regarding parking of vehicles and traffic movement were discussed threadbare. The representatives of the business community extended their cooperation to the traffic department for smooth movement of traffic and at the same time requested the department to ensure that the designated Central Business District would be provided basic facilities like parking slots and other utilities. The pressure on the existing parkings due to the presence of a large number of banks, insurance and telecommunication offices in the area was also discussed. It was proposed that designated parking zones would be earmarked for the parking’s of employees of these institutions and also for the vehicles of the business establishments of the respective area. The SSP Traffic informed the Kashmir Chamber that already a proposal was being prepared which earmarked about 28 new parking slots for these zones. Sheikh Usman Fazal, Representatives of the Hari Singh High Street Association highlighted the problems being caused by the footpath vendors who despite court orders of the Hon’ble High Court of J&K still keep hampering the smooth movement of traffic and encroach upon the parking facilities for the customers. The area earmarked for parking of vehicles of the business establishments had also been handed over to rehabilitate these vendors without providing any relief to the business community of the area
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Poloview Association and the Lambert Lane Association also drew the attention of the authorities towards available plots in their respective areas which could be converted into parking areas. All the associations were supportive of the proposal for introduction of paid parking’s which would regulate the parking areas and increase the movement of general public to the Central Business District. It was brought to the notice of the authorities that any measures proposed to be adopted for their respective business zones should be discussed so that awareness about them is created and also because the livelihood of these people was directly impacted. Mr. Mubashir Sultan, Representatives of Doodhganga Road, Karan Nagar apprised Mr. Tahir Saleem Khan about the problems caused by the declaration of that road as one-way. Mr. Tahir Saleem assured the representatives that he would personally visit the area and assess the situation, and if required, remove all bottlenecks in the smooth movement of traffic. The Senior Vice President, Mr. Nasir Hamid Khan observed that the Traffic Department of Srinagar was understaffed and urged the government to augment the department by at least 1500 officers and other personnel so that effective regulation of traffic takes place in all areas of the Kashmir Province and not only in some specific areas. It was also suggested that the practice of deflating tyres of wrongly parked vehicles should be stopped as it infringed upon the rights of the public and put them to severe inconvenience. It was also suggested that female drivers needed to be extended a degree of relaxation and, if possible, their checking/challaning should be done only by female officers not below the rank of Dy SP’s. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry also appreciated the steps taken for ensuring the safety of school going children and in this regard assured the department of their support. It was observed that the prior notice of such drives should be given so that the parents of school going children are informed beforehand to enable them to make alternative arrangements, if required. Mr. Nasir Hamid Khan thanked the SSP and Addl SP Traffic Srinagar for giving a patient hearing to the representatives of the business community and hoped that such interaction would continue so that issues are resolved in an amicable and democratic manner.