J&K to take measures to minimise accidents, traffic jams

Srinagar, Sep 23 (UNI) Concerned over the regular deaths in road accidents and traffic jams for hours, the Jammu and Kashmir government will take a number of steps to regulate traffic.

Spleaking to mediapersons here, an official spokesman said two high-powered committees would be constituted to suggest replacement of 407 mini buses by modern buses in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu on the pattern of Bangalore city and ensure proper seating adjustment of the mini buses plying in the cities.

He said the government contemplates introducing colour-coding system of passenger vehicles for specific routs in the capital cities Jammu and Srinagar.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTO), Kashmir, has realised Rs 14 crore as revenue during the last five months.

He said the government plans to reconstitute the fitness and licensing boards in the state, so that occurrence of traffic incidents are minimised.

''Two flying squads were constituted for South Kashmir and North Kashmir to check the menace of overloading,'' he informed.

The newly created Lower Munda Traffic Tool Post has realised fines of Rs 3.34 lakh on account of over loading during last from September 10 to 19.

Meanwhile, despite direction from the transport minister Hakim Yaseen to local administration to ensure transport facilities during the month of Ramzan, people in the summer capital and other major towns alleged that almost all passengers vehicles went off the roads immediately after '' Iftar'' (the time of breaking the fast) in evening.

They alleged that three-wheelers are charging more than double from the passengers in the absence of other transport facilities.

Mr Yaseen during a review meeting on September 20 had directed the local administration to ensure transport facilities to the people of Srinagar city in view of the holy month.

The government's week-long drive against those drivers who do not wear proper uniforms from September 21 also failed to take off, as no driver was seen wearing uniform.

The threat to cancel the licenses of defying drivers had no impact on the drivers, who could be seen driving in civil cloths.

UNI