Lack of roads, parking slots: Jammu in traffic danger zone with unbridled growth of vehicles
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05/05/2008
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Kashmir Times (Jammu)
Without commensurate improvement in road conditions, parking lots coupled with a 13 times increase in the number of vehicles since 1982, Jammu region has entered into "traffic danger zone." About 2000 to 2500 vehicles are being added in district every month. Official reports maintain that the vehicular population of Jammu district has tremendously increased from 28,995 in 1982 to 3, 48,951 by end of March 2008 registering a growth of nearly 13 times. Motorised two-wheelers accounted for 62 per cent of the total number of vehicles in Jammu district till March 2008. Besides this, over eight lakh vehicles belonging to other states enter the state though not registered in J&K, added reports. Traffic experts say the road accident scenario in Jammu region is grim, as the number of vehicles has gone up phenomenally during the last two decades. As per official figures, 5373 buses have been registered with Regional Transport Office (RTO) Jammu while the number of cars and street wagon reached upto 63770. More than 6500 mini-buses, 3450 taxis, 6465 Jeeps and Gypsy, 12454 three-wheelers, 216321 two wheelers, 8348 private tractors, 100 trailers, 21288 trucks and 4876 other vehicles have also been registered by the end of March 2008 since 1982, added official figures. Official reports further maintained that this number has gone up with 381762 have been plying on different roads in Jammu division. During the last eight years, vehicles population has registered tremendous increase from 45,961 in 2001 to 3, 44,132 in 2007. In 2002, the population of vehicles was 86,380 while this number was 1,38,365 in 2003, 2,08,235 in 2004, 2,95,790 in 2005,