Smart City Bus Services Suspended on TRC–Pahroo Route, Commuters Suffer | Kashmir Life

by Shoaib Nazir

SRINAGAR: The abrupt suspension of Smart City bus service on Route 15B, connecting TRC Srinagar to Pahroo Chowk and extending to Railway Station Pampore via Nowgam, has caused widespread disruption, leaving students, employees and daily wage earners struggling to reach their destinations.

No buses have operated on the route for the past three days, with commuters alleging a lack of official communication or contingency arrangements. The disruption has severely affected daily travel, particularly for those dependent on public transport for work and examinations.

Passengers said the route had long been underserved, initially operating with only two buses despite rising demand. The service was later reduced to a single bus, and its complete suspension has brought routine mobility to a near standstill.

“It has been three days since any Smart City bus operated on our route. There is no alternative service, and we even protested at Pahroo Chowk after missing our classes on Monday,” said Hazim Khursheed, a college student.

The impact has been particularly severe for students appearing in examinations and office-goers reliant on the service. “The route already had inadequate coverage. First it was reduced to one bus, and now there is none. It is severely disrupting our daily routine,” said Sahil Ali.

Residents said the absence of private transport options, including Sumo services, has compounded the problem, forcing many to walk long distances or pay higher fares for alternative travel.

Maryum Khurshid, a resident, alleged that the bus designated for Route 15B was seen operating on another route. “The bus was running elsewhere today. This is unacceptable. Services cannot be withdrawn without any notice,” she said.

When contacted, officials associated with the Srinagar Smart City bus service stated that they were not aware of the disruption and said the matter would be looked into and verified at the earliest. Repeated attempts to reach the Chief Executive Officer of the Smart City project for an official comment did not elicit any response.

The Srinagar Smart City project operates a fleet of electric buses aimed at providing a modern, efficient and environmentally sustainable public transport system within the city, while also improving connectivity with adjoining districts.

The unexplained suspension has raised serious concerns over the reliability, coordination and overall management of public transport under the Smart City initiative.

Commuters have urged the authorities to immediately restore the service or, in the interim, put in place adequate alternative transport arrangements to mitigate the ongoing hardship faced by daily passengers.