Baramulla, Apr 19: A new traffic plan rolled out in the twin towns of Baramulla and Sopore to streamline movement and ease congestion has brought temporary relief in parts, but also sparked a wider debate on gaps in urban governance and planning.

While the initiative has been largely welcomed, stakeholders say it has also exposed deeper structural issues, including unmanaged street vending, unregulated public transport and the absence of a comprehensive urban mobility framework.

With implementation underway, authorities now face the challenge of rehabilitating street vendors accused of encroaching on roads and pavements. Official figures show that Baramulla town has around 420 registered vendors, while hundreds more operate without registration, pointing to gaps in regulation. In Sopore, the number of vendors—both registered and unregistered—runs into the thousands.

A proposed solution in the form of a dedicated “vendor hub” has yet to take shape. The Baramulla district administration had earlier identified a site for the facility, but the plan has not been implemented on the ground.

“With the growing number of street vendors outnumbering shopkeepers, the authorities have failed to establish a vendor hub. Had there been timely action, the situation would not have become so difficult,” said Arshad Ahmad, a local resident.

Recent eviction drives have added to uncertainty among vendors, many of whom depend on street trade for their livelihood, without offering a clear or sustainable alternative.

Residents say the issue goes beyond vending and reflects a broader lack of planning. They argue that policies governing urban expansion have not kept pace with the rapid growth of these towns.

Civil society members also point to the increasing number of e-autos and sumo vehicles operating without designated stands. “Hundreds of e-autos have been allowed to operate in the towns, but there is no designated space or stand for them. They end up occupying roads and streets, leading to congestion. The same is the case with sumo vehicles, with illegal stands visible across the towns,” said Manzoor Ahmad.

He added that issuing permits without assessing ground realities has worsened the situation and called for a review of transport policies.

“Why blame vendors alone?” asked another resident, Shoaib, reflecting a sentiment shared by many. Residents say policy decisions are often taken in isolation, without integrating traffic management, vending regulation and public transport planning.

The absence of designated stands, weak enforcement and poor route planning have effectively turned several roads into informal parking zones and congested transit corridors.

Locals say that unless a coordinated and long-term strategy is adopted—one that addresses traffic flow, vendor management and public transport—the situation is likely to deteriorate further, despite short-term measures.

Shopian, Apr 19: Abdul Rehman, an apple cultivator from south Kashmir’s Shopian district, had pinned his hopes on time. Storing his produce in controlled atmosphere (CA) facilities last October, he waited for spring, expecting firmer demand and better prices in April. Instead, a downturn in wholesale markets outside Jammu and Kashmir has left him staring at losses.

“If the present trend continues, we won’t be able to recoup the input costs,” Rehman says, reflecting a growing anxiety among orchardists across the Valley.

Apple cartons weighing 9 to 10 kilograms are currently selling between Rs 700 and Rs 1000, a sharp drop from Rs 1000 to Rs 1400 just a few weeks ago. The decline comes at a time when an estimated 25 to 30 percent of last season’s produce is still lying unsold in CA storages, adding to the pressure on growers.

For many, the strategy of delayed selling is now backfiring. Months of storage have added to costs, while the quality of fruit has begun to deteriorate.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, says the extended storage period is beginning to show visible effects. “Due to prolonged storage, the fruit has lost some of its firmness and freshness,” he explains. “The rising temperatures outside Jammu and Kashmir are also taking a toll on the produce during transportation and marketing.”

Growers say the impact of this quality decline is not uniform. Those from lower-altitude areas are bearing the brunt.

Tariq Ahmad, an apple grower from Pulwama, says fruit from the plains is struggling in the market. “The fruit from plain areas like Pulwama has reduced quality now,” he says. “After months in storage, it doesn’t have the same appeal. Buyers are more selective, and rates drop quickly.”

He adds that apples from higher-altitude belts are faring relatively better. “Fruit from upper reaches is still fetching good prices because it retains quality for a longer time,” Ahmad says. “There is a clear difference now between produce from plains and that from higher areas.”

Other growers echo similar concerns, pointing to weak demand in outside markets as another factor behind the falling prices. Increased arrivals from other regions and changing consumption patterns have further dampened returns.

“We waited, thinking the market would improve with time,” says another grower from Shopian. “But now we are under pressure to sell before the quality drops further.”

With storage charges, transport costs and labour expenses already incurred, the current price levels leave little margin for profit. Many fear that if the trend continues, the season could end in financial strain for thousands of families dependent on apple cultivation.

Srinagar, Apr 19: Security has been beefed up at tourist spots across Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on April 22 last year, officials said here.

All security agencies have been asked to remain alert for any possible subversive activities on the eve of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, especially around tourist spots, they said.

Preparatory meetings to devise a foolproof security plan were held at the ground level while senior officers recently reviewed these arrangements, they said.

On April 22, 2025, a dastardly terrorist attack ripped through the quaint Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 tourists and a local pony-ride operator.

The brutal attack carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists led to an exodus of tourists from Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the authorities to shut nearly 50 tourist spots before reopening some of those in a phased manner after a security audit.

Now, about a year down the line, the famed meadows of Pahalgam are once again buzzing with tourist activity, with none ruing their decision to visit the ‘Mini Switzerland’ in Anantnag district that is overcoming the shadow of last year’s terror attack.

Several new measures have been introduced in Pahalgam resort to ensure tourist safety. These include antecedent verification of service providers and vendors, including ponywallahs, before they interact with the visitors.

A unique QR code-based identification system has been introduced for all tourism service providers for the safety of tourists in Pahalgam.

The system enables easy identification and verification of genuine and registered service providers, including pony-ride operators, hawkers, business establishments, as well as outside vendors.

“Each service provider has been properly vetted by police, registered by the authorities and has been provided a unique QR code that contains personal information and other details about that person,” the officials said.

When tourists scan the code with their mobile phones, they can check complete information about the person concerned, they added.

The QR codes contain the service provider’s name, parentage, detailed address, mobile number, Aadhaar number, registration number, operational route, and whether they are police-verified.

During a recent meeting, Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) V K Birdi directed that security arrangements around vulnerable installations, including prominent tourist destinations, be strengthened to ensure a safe and secure environment for visitors.

Birdi chaired a security review meeting at PCR Kashmir to evaluate and finalise security arrangements for forthcoming events in the Kashmir valley.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Traffic Police, Railways, Security, and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).