Srinagar: In a much-needed move to restore order and ensure smooth movement around two of the city’s busiest hospitals, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Tuesday launched an anti-encroachment drive outside JVC Hospital and the adjoining Children’s Hospital in Bemina.
The drive, led by Chief Anti-Encroachment Officer Muhammad Sayeed, aimed to remove scores of roadside vendors who had over the years virtually taken over the road space, turning vital hospital access routes into congested, chaotic lanes.
The anti-encroachment team was assisted by police personnel, ensuring that the operation proceeded without disruption or resistance. Street vendors who had occupied every possible inch of road, many even encroaching on pedestrian paths and ambulance access points, were asked to vacate immediately. In some cases, illegally installed structures and stalls were dismantled on the spot.
“The situation had reached a breaking point. Even emergency vehicles, including ambulances, were struggling to make their way into the hospital premises. This wasn’t just about traffic, it was about human lives,” Chief Anti-Encroachment Officer Muhammad Sayeed told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
The action comes after repeated complaints from patients, attendants, and hospital staff who had long demanded intervention. The stretch of road between the twin hospitals had become a chokepoint, with food stalls, pushcarts, and merchandise displays blocking movement and creating health and safety hazards.
SMC has issued a warning to encroachers not to return, stating that repeat violators will face stricter action, including seizure of goods and legal consequences. [KNT]
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