Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 28: Heavy snowfall in Kashmir Valley, particularly in Srinagar, disrupted the operations of Smart City buses as the services were suspended for the entire day. Partial operations resumed in the evening for some buses.
A commuter at Lal Chowk said, “We rely on these Smart City buses for our daily commute. I had an emergency today, but I was left stranded as these buses were missing from the roads.”
“This isn’t the first time snowfall has disrupted public transport. They advertise these buses as a modern solution, but what’s the point if they can’t function during bad weather?” said another resident at Lal Chowk.
A tea stall owner in the city said, “People were forced to take cabs or walk long distances in freezing weather. If the government is investing in such projects, they should ensure that they are operational in all conditions.”
A student from IGNOU expressed his disappointment, saying he had an exam and depended on the Smart City buses for transportation. “I waited for hours and eventually had to walk all the way to my exam center. This is unacceptable,” he said.
When contacted, officials from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) said that the bus services were disrupted due to snowfall during the night, which led to a power outage at the Pantha Chowk charging station, preventing buses from being charged.
The official added that the situation improved in the evening, allowing for partial resumption of bus services. “If the electricity supply remains stable throughout the night, the buses will be fully charged and operational in the city and its outskirts tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking about the charging system, the official said, “It takes nearly three hours to fully charge a bus, providing a backup of 100 kilometers. The buses charge on 11,000 kV lines overnight. We are optimistic that services will be fully restored tomorrow if power supply issues are resolved.”
