Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Friday said that odd-even rule for traffic regulation should be initiated by students who are going to colleges in private cars.“Students who go to colleges in private cars should start odd-even rule themselves. And they should start carpooling for their colleagues which will lessen the load on traffic,” Mehbooba told reporters at SKICC after chairing a function of All India Transport stakeholders.“Students are our future, let them show us the way. When they start the odd-even rule on trial basis it will set an example. Then government officials and other people will follow,” the chief minister said.The odd-even rule debate has started following traffic jams in the southern city due to closure of Solina-Rambagh road stretch because of the ongoing construction of Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover.Following the closure of the stretch, traffic jams have increased due to diversion of transport on different roads in the south part of the city.
On traffic mess in Srinagar city, she said that the government is working out on the regulation and management of traffic.She said that the government will chalk out a strategy for improvement of traffic and overall transport system.The chief minister said that Lalchowk should become a parking-free zone, and vendors and traders should not put their shopping stock on footpaths.“Vendors will be registered through Aadhar system and after that they will be given a separate space for their business. I appeal to shopkeepers not to place their stock on footpaths,” Mehbooba said.“We will make Lal Chowk a model, and for that we need support and cooperation from traders,” she said.She said that more new, modern buses will be purchased for public transport to provide people comfortable travel.“We need support and cooperation of all the departments, and people too, for better regulation and management of people,” the chief minister said. (KNS)