 Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 13: Blame it on complete lack of coordination of Tourism Department with other departments, the pilgrims who visited Peer Kho to pay their obeisance at Holy cave on the occasion of Mahashivratari remained stuck into traffic congestion for hours together.
Several dailies carried the advertisement issued by the department inviting the pilgrims to Peer Kho on the occasion. "Though there was huge rush of the pilgrims, no proper arrangement had been in place for the smooth pilgrimage", said a local shopkeeper and added that traffic congestion was the main complaint of the pilgrims.
The Department in its advertisement made some traffic advisories to prevent the chaos. "Locals were major sufferers of mismanagement on the part of the Tourism Department", said a local devotee and added that there were some traffic and district police cops deputed there, but they could not regulate traffic as was required and people got struck for hours.
"On special occasions, routine traffic needs to be diverted on other roads", said a traffic police official and added that it was not possible to manage once traffic got stuck. "Permanent, traffic arrangement considering the rush of pilgrims was required to be done, but it was never been considered by the administration. The Tourism Department should develop this place as per its historical relevance, and an alternative route needs to be explored for smooth pilgrimage", he added. |
