Budgam, Sep 15 (KNO): Shopkeepers of the Main Market in Chadoora on Tuesday held a peaceful protest over the shifting of the town’s bus adda, saying the move has created difficulties for commuters and adversely affected business activity in the market.
The shopkeepers told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they welcome the shifting of the bus adda and consider it a positive decision; however, they said the new location has created inconvenience for passengers, particularly those who have to walk a considerable distance to reach the new bus stand.
They said the relocation has also affected the footfall in the Main Market, consequently impacting their businesses.
Nazir Ahmad, one of the shopkeepers, said the shifting of the bus adda has significantly affected the market. “Since the bus adda was shifted, people are not coming to the market for shopping like before. The footfall has reduced considerably and many shopkeepers have been badly hit. Our businesses depend on the movement of people in the market, and we are facing difficulties,” he said.
The shopkeepers appealed to the administration to allow some passenger vehicles to enter the main market, one at a time, to facilitate the boarding and dropping off of passengers before proceeding towards the new bus adda.
They said such an arrangement would provide relief to commuters while also helping maintain business activity in the Main Market.
Speaking to KNO, SDM Chadoora Primroze Bashir said, “The bus adda has been shifted recently and administration would look into the issues being faced by the shopkeepers and commuters.”
He said the arrangements would gradually improve with time and assured that the administration would also explore possible alternatives to address the concerns raised by the shopkeepers.
The SDM said efforts would be made to ensure that the public gets necessary facilities while the interests of the local business community are also taken into consideration—(KNO)
