Masrat Nabi
Srinagar: Overloading and rash driving by passenger vehicles is a common sight in the northern region of Kashmir where the presence of the traffic department is almost negligible, encouraging the transporters to defy the norms.
Transporters continue to make passengers suffer by cramming public transport vehicles with people beyond their maximum capacity in north Kashmir, particularly in Baramulla District.
Sajad Ahmed, the daily traveler said overloading has become common in public transport. it has become a daily affair in Baramulla district and the sad part is traffic department is hardly seen to check this menace.
Negligence of traffic department putting the lives of hundreds of passengers at risk resulting in fatal accidents in the district each passing day said Mohamamd Sadiq a Baramulla resident.
To maximize revenue, mini-bus operators try to adjust more people than the possible capacity. Thus, buses overflowing with people, several limbs hanging out of doors and windows, are a common sight in the Baramulla district Rameez Rashid Lone a college student told Kashmir Despatch. He added that he faced immense inconvenience as he had to commute through public transport on a daily bases.
Hilal another student complained that public transport in Baramulla is no less than a punishment. He said people are forced to travel in these overloaded busses due to a lack of alternatives. “They load us into vehicles like cattle, but we have no choice. We cannot afford to hire a private vehicle every day.” He added while saying even Tata sumos end up carrying more than the permitted number of passengers now in the district.
The worst affected looks the female folk. Some students from Women’s college Baramulla said standing in the buses often invites harassment at the hands of miscreants. “But then we are helpless to travel by buses as we don’t have other means of travel,” the students said to Kashmir Despatch.
The passengers, however, complained that public transport in the town is getting worse with each passing day. “Reason for it is better known to everyone. Corruption is rampant. Not a single official from Traffic department questions or fine drivers for overloading. They said the increase in the rate of accidents should open the eyes of the government.
Is the traffic department waiting for a major mishap to happen to take action questions passengers ????
Pertinent to mention here as per Motor Vehicles Act, “if Matador /Mini Bus is found plying overloaded with passengers (in excess of the capacity mentioned in the Registration Certificate), then the driver should be given a challan u/s 39/192 and 66/192 A of the M.V Act,1988.”
But the bus drivers openly violate the traffic rules and continue with their habit of overloading. “Ironically, the traffic cops act as mute spectators to overloading.
Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Baramulla Jamsheed Chowdary speaking to Kashmir Despatch said our priority is always to do challan the drivers who are found violating the traffic rules in the district, he said rest he is not aware or has not received any complaint regarding the overloading and rash driving by passenger vehicles. Officer added that he will personally look into this issue and will conduct an inspection in the district and whosoever will found violating rules will be dealt with strictly.
