Pvt buses at rly station create traffic mess

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 14

Private buses stationed outside the railway station cause traffic bottleneck. The entire stretch between the entry and exit gates of the railway station witnesses stationed buses throughout the day.

Private transport companies operating buses to Delhi and Jammu park vehicles there using as their own separate bus stand.

NS Gabarhia, a resident of the same locality, said, “I wonder why don't they utilise the premises of the ISBT and advertise their operations at the railway station to get customers. They didn't even spare footpath as buses remain parked on it, denying pedestrians the right to safe passage."

Parking of the buses has narrowed the road further which has already a considerable portion due to the construction of the BRTS corridor. On the other side of the road, heavy commercialisation has prompted the shopkeepers to encroach upon the stretch.

The authorities concerned have failed to deter the private buses from utilising the public space. These buses remain parked outside the railway station gate for hours daily for picking passengers alighting from trains. It is only after 9 pm that these buses leave for their destinations.

It exposes the tall claims of the administration regarding the removal of encroachments.

Another resident, Satwinder Singh Sonu, said, “The volume of traffic remains very high on the road throughout the day, causing inconvenience to the commuters as traffic jams are frequent.”

Another resident, Harjit Singh, said, “A rehriwala can't ply his hand cart on this road to eke out a living. The buses, which remain parked outside the station gate, remain invisible to the traffic police. At least, heavy vehicles must be instructed to park inside the parking area of the railway station so that there is no hindrance in the movement of traffic.”

Auto-rickshaws also wait for passengers outside the gate of the railway station, which further add to the traffic woes.