Srinagar: Continuing its sustained and structured engagement with the trade community of Srinagar, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) yesterday held its 6th round of interaction with Srinagar-based Traders Associations as part of its ongoing consultative process aimed at covering all nearly 250 affiliated bazar committees of Srinagar.
Pertinent to mention, KTMF has already conducted five rounds of interactions with Srinagar-based Traders Associations starting from last month and the exercise will continue until concerns of every bazar committee are heard. documented and collectively projected before the authorities.
The meeting was held at Hotel Stadium, Haft Chinar, Srinagar and was led by KTMF President Mohammad Yaseen Khan along with senior trade leader Bashir Ahmad Rather. Representatives of various markets participated and raised serious concerns affecting day-to-day business operations and long-term sustainability of traditional markets.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the installation of the road divider at Ram Bagh, which traders said has caused a serious dent to business activity in the area. Participants stated that the divider has severely restricted vehicular access, disrupted customer movement and resulted in substantial loss of footfall pushing shopkeepers into distress. KTMF strongly urged the Traffic Department to immediately review and address the Ram Bagh divider issue stating that traffic management measures should facilitate commerce rather than choke established markets.
Besides, traders highlighted persistent issues related to the functioning of civic bodies, particularly the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), shop tax-related grievances and traffic mismanagement across multiple bottlenecks in Srinagar. Participants expressed resentment over arbitrary enforcement, lack of coordination among departments and absence of a trader-friendly policy framework which they said has compounded business distress.
Addressing the meeting, KTMF President Mohammad Yaseen Khan said that the Federation has consciously adopted a phase-wise consultative approach to ensure inclusive representation of traders from all parts of Srinagar. He said KTMF will not remain a mute spectator to policies and interventions that adversely impact traders’ livelihoods and will continue to raise these issues forcefully with the concerned authorities.
Khan further stated that all issues raised during the successive rounds of meetings, including the Ram Bagh divider issue will be compiled and formally taken up with the Divisional and District Administration and the Traffic Department for urgent and time-bound redressal. He stressed that traders cannot be expected to survive amid civic neglect, traffic chaos and regulatory uncertainty.
Besides Khan and Bashir Ahmad Rather who participated in the meeting included Abdul Majeed Khan (Sekidafar Safa Kadal Traders Association), Abdul Rouf Malik (Habba Kadal), Meharaj-ud-Din Khan (Natipora Traders Association), Feroz Ahmed Masoodi (Hyderpora Traders Association), Rafiq Ahmed Zargar (Al Quds Market, Hari Singh High Street), Nisar Ahmed Shahdar (Maisuma), Aijaz Ahmed Khan (Batamaloo Traders Federation), Javid Iqbal Bujja (Haft Chinar Traders Association), Basharat Hameed (Allochi Bagh Traders Association) and Lateef Ahmed Mir (Jawahar Nagar Traders Association).
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