Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 9: In a major step toward unifying the Transport fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir, the All J&K Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA), under the leadership of Chairman Karan Singh Wazir, formally welcomed the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi e-Rickshaw e-Auto Union J&K into its fold.
The alliance was sealed at a well-attended congregation of transporters, where e-Rickshaw/Auto Association president Gaurav Kapoor announced his decision to join the AJKTWA as vice president, a move expected to give further strength to the Association’s growing influence.
Alongside him, prominent transporter Sanjeev Choudhary also joined the Association, taking charge as secretary. Both appointments were described as significant additions to the leadership team, promising greater representation and support for transporters across diverse segments.
Chairman Karan Singh Wazir, addressing the gathering, said the induction of Gaurav Kapoor and his team into the Association would ensure that the voices of e-rickshaw and auto operators are amplified within the larger platform. He reassured members that long-pending issues related to e-buses and e-rickshaws/autos are on the verge of resolution and informed them that the pressing matter of vehicle blacklisting has already been taken up with the Regional Transport Office and senior officials in the Transport Department.
The Chairman also highlighted the severe impact of recent natural calamities, particularly floods and cloudbursts, which have damaged the fragile road infrastructure of the region and crippled the sector. These disasters, he explained, have disrupted road connectivity, inflicted financial losses, and compounded the crisis by triggering a steep decline in tourism, a lifeline for many transporters.
The meeting further witnessed strong opposition to the government’s plan of introducing Automated Testing Stations (ATS). Both the President and the Chief Patron of AJKTWA asserted that such measures would add to the distress of transporters rather than ease their challenges.
Vijay Singh Chib, president of AJKTWA, also addressed the gathering, urging transporters to unite and prepare for a bigger fight in the coming days. He said with the entry of Gaurav Kapoor as vice president and Sanjeev Choudhary as secretary, the All J&K Transport Welfare Association has fortified its leadership and widened its representative base.
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