Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 28: All the transporters’ organizations of the State have resolved to observe complete strike from Lakhanpur to Leh- Ladakh on Monday for seeking hike in the fare of public transport.
Addressing a joint press conference at Press Club here today under the banner of All J&K Transport Welfare Association, its members Vijay Sharma, Devinder Choudhary, Darshan Mehra, Bharat Bhushan and others declared that after consultation with the transporters bodies of Kashmir Region including Ladakh it has been unanimously decided to observe `Chakka Jam’ strike on September 30. They said all the buses, mini-buses, taxies, Tempo travelers, auto-rikshaws etc will remain off the road on Monday.
Representatives of All Passenger Transport Associ-ations of J&K in a meeting on September 23, took a final decision in this regard. They said private transport is important source of income to the State exchequer. However, it is burdened with various taxes / fees which have caused a great handicap to poor individual transporter of the State. Hike in the prices of petroleum products and implementation of Passenger Welfare Fund has badly hit the transport industry. Insurance Regulatory Development Authority IRDA also increased the rate of 3rd party insurance from April this year. The plying of vehicles has become highly uneconomical.
They said that under such circumstances there was urgent need to review the fare structure. They demanded 40% hike in the fare of public transport and adequate increase in freight charges as well. They alleged that despite representations to the Government on several occasions nothing has been done and transporters are now left with the only option to go on one day strike. They also regretted the inconvenience to the general public. Pritam Singh from Banihal Route Union, Anil Chopra from MBWU, B B Gupta from Poonch Union, S S Bajwa from R S Pura Bus Union, K D Singh, Rashpal Singh, Santi Saroop and Vijay Singh Chib of Matador Union were also present.
They further warned that if the Government failed to take any decision in this regard within a week, the transporters will go on indefinite strike from next week.
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