Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: All J&K Transport Welfare Association today announced one-day strike on December 15, citing the Government’s continued failure to address the long-pending and pressing demands of the transport community across the Union Territory of J&K.
Addressing a press conference, Association Chairman Karan Singh Wazir expressed deep concern over what he termed the administration’s “apathetic and lackadaisical approach” toward the genuine issues repeatedly raised by transporters. He said that despite the submission of several memorandums to the Transport Department, Transport Minister, Secretary Transport and Transport Commissioner, the grievances remain unaddressed, pushing the transport sector into both operational and financial distress.
Wazir outlined a series of unresolved issues that have been repeatedly brought to the government’s notice. He referred to non-implementation of e-bus schedules and timetables finalized for Jammu, with a complete lack of action on similar planning for e-buses in Srinagar; steep 200% increase in fitness and passing fees under the new MoRTH notification, which transporters say was implemented without considering its economic impact on an already struggling sector and ineffective automatic resting and fitness centers, which are incapable of catering to the volume of transporters.
The Association has urged the Transport Commissioner to regularize fitness and passing procedures currently being managed by government-supervised facilities in all districts. Wazir stated that no concrete steps have been taken to ease the burden on transporters.
He expressed serious concern over the non-revision of transport tariffs, which has remained pending since 2021. Despite multiple consultations with the government and the submission of detailed cost-of-operation reports by the Association, the Transport Department has not finalised the revised tariff structure.
Wazir reiterated that the token strike is intended as a final warning to the administration before stronger measures are considered. He appealed to the government to intervene urgently, stating that the survival of thousands of transporters and their families depends on immediate redressal of these long-pending demands.
Senior members of the Association, Vijay Singh Chib, Parvinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, Labh Singh, Balbir Singh, Ranjit Singh, Sanjeev Choudhary and others were also present.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at Srinagar Association’s general secretary, Sheikh Mohammad Yousuf, said transporters from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions have unanimously decided to suspend services as a mark of protest on Dec 15, 205.
Yousuf said the transport sector in the region is “on the verge of collapse” due to the government’s “failure to address key issues,” including the unregulated operation of e-buses, steep hikes in fitness and green taxes, and what he termed “arbitrary e-challans.”
He added that the Association will give the Govt a 7-day ultimatum after the strike, warning that transporters will be compelled to take a “major decision” if their grievances are not addressed. He accused the administration of withholding payments for vehicles hired during government-supervised activities, including elections, official travel and “Operation Sindoor.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
