Authorities have suspended route permits of 83 passenger vehicles for contravention of different traffic laws including operating from erstwhile Batamaloo bus stand in violation of the High Court directions.
The development came after Traffic Police City and Srinagar Development Authority sent separately report on these vehicles to regional transport office Srinagar with recommendations of suspension of route permits.
The authorities had enclosed photographs as a proof to support the allegations against these vehicles for operating from de-notified Batamaloo yard.
Confirming the development, assistant regional transport officer (ARTO) Sheikh Manzoor Ahmad said that these route permits were put under suspension under due process of law.
“All agencies are coordinating to decongest Srinagar, and ensure safe and smooth movement of traffic on city roads,” he added.
He informed that Srinagar Development Authority had recommended 28 cases for suspension of route permits while SSP Traffic City had sent fresh 59 cases.
SSP Traffic Srinagar Tahir Saleem said that these vehicles were seized in compliance to the High Court directions. “Earlier, we had seized more than 415 passenger service vehicles which were found operating from the entry and exit points of the de-notified Batamaloo Bus Stand after 5 November 2017,” he said.
The SSP said that 83 cases had been sent to RTO Srinagar till date with recommendations to cancel their route permits.
“We also seized 40 sumos and mini buses which were operating from the de-notified Batamaloo bus stand. On our recommendations, the authorities have cancelled route permit of 83 vehicles,” he said.
He added that transporters are appealed not to operate from the de-notified bus stand or at its exit and entry points.
“Any passenger vehicle found violating High Court directions will be seized immediately. The seized vehicle can only be released by High Court. Vehicle found violating directions will also be recommended for route permit cancellation,” the SSP said.
He added that they had also sent 79 cases for suspension of driving licenses of the violators found using mobile phone while driving. He added that all agencies are working in coordination to ensure passengers and commuters get safe and journey on city roads.
“Motorists will no longer be able to get away with mere payment of fines for these grave traffic violations. A special panel set up by the Supreme Court in 2015 to monitor and measure implementation of road safety laws has decreed that drivers guilty of serious offences should have their licenses suspended,” he informed.
On 30 November, the High Court banned the entry of Sumos and taxis operating from different districts into Srinagar city. On the directions of High Court, Batamaloo Bus stand was shifted to Parimpora and no vehicle is allowed to operate from Batamaloo Bus stand.