Delegation urges SDA to develop automobile workshop zone near Parimpora, restore public transport connectivity
Srinagar, October 16: A delegation of the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) and the Batmaloo Traders Association (BTA) has urged the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) to address the difficulties faced by traders following the relocation of the general bus stand from Batmaloo.
The delegation, led by KTMF Chairman and BTA President Abrar Khan, met SDA Vice Chairman Shabir Hussain Bhat in Srinagar and raised issues concerning declining commercial activity, parking infrastructure, public transport connectivity and the rehabilitation of traders affected by urban development projects.
Other members of the delegation included BTA Chairman Farooq Ahmed Rangrez, Vice Presidents Liaquat and Mehrajuddin Ganai, and KTMF Organiser Waseemullah.
According to a statement issued by the BTA, the delegation said the relocation of the bus stand had adversely affected commercial establishments in Batmaloo, including complexes developed by the SDA and privately owned properties. It said the decline in customer footfall and transport connectivity had left several traders struggling to sustain their businesses despite substantial investments.
The delegation proposed the development of modern multi-level parking facilities under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, involving local entrepreneurs and the SDA. It said such facilities could ease parking constraints in commercial areas while creating employment opportunities for local youth.
The traders also called for the relocation of automobile workshops operating in Batmaloo, adjoining areas and Parimpora to a designated zone near Parimpora. They sought suitable land and the development of supporting infrastructure to accommodate workshop owners.
According to the delegation, the proposed relocation could help affected businesses recover from reduced commercial activity following the bus stand’s shifting, while freeing up land in Batmaloo for infrastructure development.
Public transport, road widening among demands
The delegation sought the deployment of a designated contingent of intra-city public transport at the Batmaloo No. 2 parking facility to improve connectivity and help revive commercial activity in the area.
It also called for identifying and developing additional parking sites and upgrading existing commercial infrastructure to meet the requirements of a growing urban centre.
On traffic management, the traders urged the SDA and district administration to coordinate efforts to remove bottlenecks and widen key roads. They also stressed the need for appropriate rehabilitation arrangements for shopkeepers and traders who could be affected by road-widening and other urban development works.
The SDA Vice Chairman, Shabir Hussain Bhat, gave the delegation a hearing and, according to the BTA statement, assured its members that their genuine grievances and demands would be addressed.
Bhat also committed to personally visiting Batmaloo and adjoining commercial areas to assess the situation on the ground and examine the issues raised by the traders.
The delegation expressed hope that the proposed visit and subsequent administrative action would help address the concerns of the business community and improve commercial activity in the area.
