Smart Bus Expansion Row Stalls Kashmir Transport

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar: Kashmir Valley witnessed a near-complete halt in public transport on Monday as private operators enforced a valley-wide“chakka jam” against the proposed expansion of Smart City bus services into district routes, disrupting normal life across regions.

From Srinagar to south, north and central Kashmir, major roads wore a deserted look with buses, minibuses and inter-district cabs largely off the roads. Key transport hubs such as Parimpora, Batamaloo, Nowgam, Sopore and Anantnag saw suspended activity, leaving commuters stranded.

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The shutdown was called by transport unions under the banner of the All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association, which alleges that extending Smart City buses beyond Srinagar into semi-urban and inter-district routes threatens the survival of traditional operators.

Commuters Bear The Brunt
Passengers were left waiting for hours at bus stops, with many forced to walk or rely on limited private options.“I need to return to Kupwara, but there are no buses or cabs,” said a commuter, Imtiyaz Malik, highlighting the widespread disruption.

Officials said while private transport remained off the roads, auto-rickshaws and government-run buses operated in limited numbers, offering partial relief.

'Question Of Survival' For Transporters
Transport Association Kashmir president Shabir Ahmad Matta said the protest reflects growing unrest over what he termed“unconsulted expansion” of Smart City services.

“We are not against development, but when routes that have sustained thousands of families for decades are taken away without safeguards, it becomes a question of survival,” he said, adding that repeated assurances on route rationalisation have not been implemented.

At Parimpora bus stand, rows of idle vehicles and silent booking counters captured the scale of the shutdown. Drivers said rising fuel prices, loan burdens and declining passenger numbers have already strained the sector.

“We are ordinary people running vehicles on bank loans. If passengers disappear, our families disappear with them,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a driver.

Read Also Transport Strike Hits Kashmir Over Smart City Bus Expansion Kashmir Transporters Call Chakka Jam On April 20 Over Smart Bus Expansion

Smart City Expansion At Core Of Row
Transporters said the planned extension to districts like Pulwama, Kangan and Sopore, along with the reported induction of additional buses, has intensified fears of income loss due to direct competition.

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They have urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to halt the expansion and initiate dialogue.

Warning Of Escalation
Union leaders said the shutdown is a warning rather than an indefinite strike but cautioned of further escalation if their concerns are not addressed.

Meanwhile, authorities have not issued any official response to the demands, even as the standoff continues to impact daily life across the Valley.

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