Srinagar, 10-Sep: As the parking space in the city seems to shrink with each passing day, the ever busy Habba kadal Bridge in the heart of the city has been turned into the new parking space and hub of anti-social activities.This old bridge in Habba Kadal is an epitome of history in itself, which connects old city areas of Chinkaral Mohalla, Fateh-Kadal and Babademb areas to civil lines areas.The inhabitants echoed the views. “Shopkeepers and visitors use the bridge for parking. This brings traffic in the area to standstill,” the aggrieved locals said.”We had expected that the bridge would help us to ease our grievances, but the initiative has worsened the situation,” they said.Speaking to Mohammad Maqbool, President Mohalla committee said “These Habba Kadal bridges that connect civil lines areas to the Downtown areas of the Srinagar were meant for local traffic but the same have either been occupied by the vendors or converted into parking area creating more chaos in the area’’.Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Traffic Srinagar City, Musadiq Basu, when contacted, said that they have time to time taken action against the illegal parking on the bridge during daytime. However, the locals have always restrained against our action during night hours”.Similarly, the residents also complained about “hooliganism” and anti-social activities hanging on the bridge all day.“Boys from other localities come and gather here at a particular spot and smoke, consume all kinds of drugs, without even caring about the people here,” said a resident, wishing anonymity.“The bridge, according to the locals, has become a bastion of such immoral activities. These boys resort to stone throwing in a nearby bunker in the late hours when someone from the area taunts them,” said another anonymous resident.“These goons resort to abuse in front of local residents. Female folk feels uneasiness in their presence. They fight with one another in full public glare. Their actions embarrass us, particularly our daughters and mothers who are unable to cross the bridge’’, Maqbool added.“One could smell narcotics particularly Charas in the air. Billows of smoke and smell had affected our life,” said a paramedic living in the area.Many of the locals said they had planned to migrate from the area just because of “bridge menace. When contacted, Station House Officer Police Station kral khud said that action will be initiated against those indulging in illegal activities in the park. “I request locals to inform us whenever they feel such activities are going in area,” he said adding that addressing the grievances of general public is first priority of police.(CNS)
