Govt employees to regulate traffic today

Srinagar, Apr 6: District administrations in J&K on Saturday issued individual orders deploying magistrates and other government employees to tackle with inconvenience commuters will face in wake of the highway closure order that begins on Sunday.
The government on Wednesday issued an order suspending civilian movement on the National Highway on Sundays and Wednesdays from 4 am to 5 pm to make the road available exclusively for movement of armed forces’ convoys.
These restrictions would remain in force till 31st May, 2019.
On Saturday, district administrations notified several magistrates and government employees their duties on the highway.
Srinagar Administration alone deputed 18 officers and six magistrates for 18 highway crossing points in the city.
“To facilitate the movement of Civilians/Vehicles in view of convoy crossing District Srinagar following Officers/Mobile Teams will be stationed at indicated locations right from 6AM on Sunday 7th April. Should you need any assistance please contact them,” DC Srinagar, Shahid Choudhary tweeted.
A similar order was issued by district administration Anantnag deputing 25 officers for the duty.
The orders were widely criticised on social media.
“J&K Government has converted government officers in to traffic wardens because of their hare-brained highway closure order. Imagine an ambulance driver having to call these people at every crossing that he gets stuck at. Some orders are too idiotic for words!” tweeted Omar Abdullah.
Mehbooba too reacted with this tweet: “There is no method to this madness. I hope the order is revoked immediately because I can’t imagine this working out practically. Seems like Guv admin wants to punish people by depriving them of simple things like access to roads.”
“First day of the #KashmirHighwayMess order tomorrow. Srinagar alone has deputed 18 officers & 6 magistrates for 18 highway crossing points in the city.Imagine the number of Officers on the entire highway.Looks like most of the administration is going to be on traffic duty. Wow!” wrote journalist Shuja ul haq.