The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Nov 26: The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) finds itself at a critical crossroads as traffic police restrictions threaten to derail the corporation’s fragile revival, with daily losses mounting to a staggering Rs 4 lakh and threatening to push the public transport service back into financial distress.
Managing Director Rakesh Kumar Srangal has sounded an urgent alarm, revealing that the corporation’s lifeline—its passenger bus service—is being systematically choked by traffic police restrictions implemented since November 4, coinciding with the first assembly session.
The current crisis has dramatically transformed the corporation’s revenue landscape. Once generating daily revenues of Rs 8 lakh, the bus services are now limping with a mere Rs 4 lakh daily collection. This precipitous decline translates to monthly losses exceeding Rs 1.20 crore, potentially unraveling the corporation’s hard-fought recovery since October 2021.
In a desperate bid to arrest the deteriorating situation, Srangal has formally approached the Inspector General of Police (Traffic) through a detailed communication. The letter highlights the severe operational constraints imposed by current traffic regulations, which effectively quarantine SRTC buses from entering Srinagar city.
North sector buses are being halted at Bemina Bypass, while south sector buses face similar restrictions at Pantha Chowk. These checkpoints have transformed into virtual transit blockades, causing significant inconvenience to commuters who are increasingly vocal about their transportation challenges.
“The issue has transcended operational limitations and has now become an administrative bottleneck requiring immediate high-level intervention,” Srangal emphasized in his representation to the traffic police leadership.
The standoff underscores a complex administrative challenge where security protocols potentially conflict with public transportation needs. While the initial restrictions might have been implemented with specific security considerations during the assembly session, their continued enforcement threatens to cripple an already vulnerable public transport ecosystem.
For the SRTC, which was barely recovering from previous financial setbacks, these restrictions represent a potential knockout punch. The corporation’s survival hinges on its ability to maintain operational continuity and revenue streams, both of which are currently under severe strain.
The situation demands immediate dialogue between transportation authorities, traffic police, and administrative leadership to find a balanced solution that addresses security concerns without strangling public transportation infrastructure.
As commuters continue to bear the brunt of these restrictions, the spotlight remains firmly on how quickly and effectively the administrative machinery can resolve this transit deadlock.
