Kashmir Impulse Desk

Baramulla, April 19 

A new traffic plan in twin north Kashmir towns of Baramulla and Sopore has brought partial relief from congestion but highlighted deeper shortcomings in urban planning and governance, residents and officials said.

The initiative, aimed at streamlining traffic movement, has been broadly welcomed but has also drawn attention to structural issues such as unregulated street vending, poorly managed public transport and the lack of a comprehensive mobility framework.

Authorities are now grappling with the challenge of relocating street vendors accused of encroaching on roads and pavements. 

Official data shows around 420 registered vendors in Baramulla, alongside hundreds operating without registration. In Sopore, the number of vendors, both registered and unregistered, runs into the thousands.

Plans to establish a dedicated vendor hub in Baramulla have yet to be implemented, despite land having been identified earlier by the district administration.

“With the growing number of street vendors outnumbering shopkeepers, the authorities have failed to establish a vendor hub,” said a local, adding that delays have worsened the situation.

Recent eviction drives have added to uncertainty among vendors who depend on street trade for their livelihoods, without a clear rehabilitation plan in place.

Residents and civil society members said the problem extends beyond vending, citing the rising number of e-rickshaws and shared taxis operating without designated stands. 

This has led to vehicles occupying roads and contributing to congestion, they said.

Critics also pointed to gaps in transport planning, saying permits have been issued without adequate assessment of infrastructure capacity.

Locals said the absence of designated parking, weak enforcement and poor route planning have turned several roads into informal transit hubs.

They warned that without a coordinated, long-term strategy integrating traffic management, vendor regulation and public transport planning, congestion and disorder are likely to persist despite short-term interventions.