Another burden on masses: Passenger fare to be increased by 15 per cent in J&K

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 22: Bad news for the people, Jammu and Kashmir has given hike of 15 per cent in the passenger fare, burdening the masses further who are already facing immense burden of the price hike.

After 2-days of hectic discussions by the government appointed committee headed by Commissioner/Secretary Finance Sudhanshu Panday and representatives of the big bus operators, mini bus operators, sumo/taxi operators and auto operators both from Jammu and Kashmir, a breakthrough was achieved in Srinagar.

Sources said that formal order will be issued by the cabinet by next week, after which the new fare lists would be issued.

The final round of negotiations was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Transport and CAPD Qamar Ali Akhoon. Akhoon has said that the rates have been arrived keeping in view both the interest of the public as well as transporters.

The Minister said that the revised passenger fares negotiated with the 
transporters would be submitted for approval of the cabinet and new rates notified in the shortest possible time.

“Government has accepted that it will give 15 per cent hike in the passenger fare across the state and has assured us that it will be revived. Now we have called off the strike”, said Anil Chopra, president All Jammu & Kashmir Passenger Transport Association (AJKPTA).

Last hike was given in June 2010, when the government had enhanced the fare by 13 per cent with assurance that it would be revived in proportion to the increase in the fuel prices in future. Later a committee was constituted on June 28 this year for the assessment in revision of passenger fare. It had to submit its report within 15 days but failed to submit the same.

When contacted, Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon said that the final decision will be taken by the cabinet and interests of the people have been taken into account.

Meanwhile on second day of the strike call given by the transporters in Jammu and Kashmir, normal life was adversely affected with commuters facing lot of hardships to reach their destination.

Worst affected were the school children, employees, tourists and patients, who in absence of plying of transport suffered much. Today as usual, the entire public transport including buses, mini buses, public vehicles and autos were off the roads in city. Similar was the situation in the districts as there was no movement of inter district transport, forcing many to cancel their travel.