KNZ NEWS DESK
Srinagar, June 29: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Monday said that the administration in Kashmir is busy in thorough consultations with the stakeholders and experts to frame Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for resuming public transport and re-opening tourist places in Kashmir.
“We are working on the SoPs and hectic deliberations are on with the stakeholders and the officials from the administration about resuming public transport in Kashmir and re-opening of the tourist places in the Valley,” Pole told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
He said that the final conclusion is yet to be arrived at but once the SoPs are finalized, “announcement will be made.”
Public transport has been off the roads since the outbreak of pandemic in Kashmir on March 20.
Even though tata sumos and taveras are plying normally on roads, besides markets too abuzz with shoppers since June 14, transporters were not allowed to ply in the wake of pandemic Covid-19.
Transporters have been staging peaceful protests asking the Srinagar administration to either allow them to resume operations or torch their vehicles stating that they were on the verge of starvation as it’s been almost a year since last year’s August 5 decision, they have hardly plied on roads.
They have been repeatedly urging the Srinagar administration to hold deliberations with them too the way it did with traders for re-opening of markets after 85 days. They said at least 1.5 lakh family members of theirs are on the verge of starvation due to the continuous shutdown.
Similarly, the divisional commissioner said that discussions are on the re-opening of tourist places across Kashmir. “Final decision will be taken soon,” he said.(KINS)
