Kashmir Digits

According to an official document the J&K administration is planning to come up with four new bus terminals that would accommodate 2000-2500 heavy motor vehicles, in order tor reduce traffic congestion.

The document known as the Srinagar Master Plan 2035, , the government is planning to construct and update existing bus terminals at five places including Narbal, Galandhar, Ganderbal, Parimpora and Budgam. This would accommodate inter-city vehicles and local buses.

The document further read that at present all bus, mini-bus operations whether intra-city, inter-city or inter-state originate and terminate at Pantha Chowk, Batamaloo, Soura and Hazratbal terminals.

The existing Batamaloo and Pantha Chowk terminals are proposed to be developed as city centre and sub-city centre respectively.

To meet future demand, for intra-city and intra-state traffic operations proposed in Phase –II (2020-25) four new bus terminals shall be constructed. In Ganderbal a bus terminal would come up near District Police Lines and it would accommodate 400 buses.

Similarly, Narbal terminal will be constructed along the proposed Lawaypora-Mujgund Road which will accommodate 500 buses, it said.

Likewise, the Galandhar bus terminal would accommodate 600 buses.

In Budgam the existing bus terminal would be upgraded and it would accommodate 300 buses.

The existing Parimpora bus stand would accommodate 200 intercity and local buses.

In addition to these terminals, Nowgam railway station along the existing parking lot would also be upgraded with an additional facility.

As per the Master Plan, it has been estimated that for the future demand, more than 2000 standard buses will be required by the year 2025.

It also envisages that Pantha Chowk bus terminal would be shifted to Galandhar along Galandhar-Pulwama road for inter-city and inter-state transport operations.