SRINAGAR: More than seven hundred public vehicles, including 685 buses and 56 minibuses, have been discarded by the authorities in Kashmir valley.
Next year another 286 vehicles will be taken off the road, a local agency KNS reports.
According to the official documents available with the news agency, 357 buses part of Kashmir Motor Drivers Association (KMDA) have been discarded over the years – upto March 31, 2013.
In 2005 the government issued an order to phase out 25-year old 52-seater passenger buses in the Valley.
The vehicles have been condemned on the directions by Jammu and Kashmir High Court, directing taking off the road 15 to 25 old commercial vehicles in a phased manner.
Regarding medium passenger vehicles, the document reveals that 56 vehicles have been discarded while its number will rise by 76 more by December end.
The document further reveals that the more minibuses will be taken off the road in near future.
“Medium passenger vehicle started their operation in 1988-89 and are completing their 25 years in the current year and years to follow, therefore the condemnation would be more in coming years in phased manner.”
