Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, May 21: The residents of different areas of Awantipora hamlet of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district here have demanded regular bus services from Awantipora-Srinagar.
The inhabitants of Awantipora, Padgampora, Dangerpora , Reshipora, Larkipora, Malangpora and neighbouring localities said that though bus service is operational on national highway from Anantnag to Srinagar but Awantipora area residents are finding it difficult to get seats in them to reach their destinations.
They said these buses usually remain jam-packed wi1h the passengers, thereby causing huge inconvenience to the people living in Awantipora areas.
Zakir Ahmad, a resident of Awantipora mentioned the hardships faced by the people in the area, including employees and students, who need to commute to Srinagar for work or educational purposes on a regular basis.
He said patients and the elderly are also grappling due to the absence of proper bus service in the area.
Rashid Hussain, another local resident said that services plying on the highway are of no use for Awantipora residents as most buses bypass town while many don’t stop on new highway due to overload.
He said that there is an immediate need for bus services from Awantipora to Srinagar so that locals could heave a sigh of relief.
Currently, locals have no option other than to board sumo, which drops them at Pantha Chowk only and causes suffering to them, he said.
Locals said that they have brought this matter into the notice of concerned authorities, who assured them that services would commence soon but nothing has been done in this regard so far.
In light of this situation, the residents of the Awantipora area urged the Road Transport Corporation authorities and the District Commissioner Pulwama to take steps to provide proper transport facilities in their area.
