The government Wednesday finally ordered shifting of the general Bus Stand Batmaloo to unused Truck terminal at Fruit Mandi in Parimpora in city outskirts.Minister for R&B, Floriculture and Gardens and Parks, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Wednesday visited the truck terminal at Fruit Mandi Parimpora and took the stock of the roads and other facilities available at the Terminal.The Truck Terminal, lying unused since its construction, has been identified for shifting of General Bus Stand Batamaloo to ease traffic congestion in Srinagar city as GBS Batamaloo has become a chronic point of traffic jamming in the city, an official said.The Minister directed the Chief Engineer R&B Department and other concerned agencies to develop the internal and external roads of the Truck Terminal immediately to ensure hassle free movement of vehicles.
He asked them to install lighting, construct proper drainage system besides fencing the terminal and creating other basic facilities for convenience of general public.He asked them to complete all the works by the end of next month (December) so that shifting of GBS Batamaloo is initiated accordingly. The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Chief Engineer R&B, S K Razdan and other senior officers of the R&B department.The Minister was informed that the Truck Terminal will have two separate entry and exit points while the buses will enter from bye-pass and exit from Barthana aimed at avoiding congestion of incoming and outgoing vehicles.The Minister said that traffic congestion has become a major problem in twin capital cities of the State and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is personally monitoring the issue and working out measures to streamline the traffic movement. He said the measures being taken by the Government for improving traffic system in the State are expected to show results very soon.(KNS)