Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 17: Five main passenger bus service unions in Jammu province have demanded conduct of timely elections.
Addressing a joint press conference here today, representatives of Jammu-Poonch Passenger Bus Service Group/Union, Jammu-Banihal Bus Group, Jammu-Kathua Bus Group, Jammu-Chhamb and Jammu-RS Pura Group, expressed strong resentment over the attitude of concerned authorities in Transport Department and Divisional Administration. They said that entire transport system has turned into as mess. There is no election of the Unions which have already completed their term.
They pointed out that system has been derailed and no initiative is being taken to hold elections as the two years term of these unions has expired several months ago. They approached RTO Jammu, Deputy Commissioner, Transport Commissioner and even the Divisional Commissioner Jammu for their intervention but no initiative has been taken till date. There is no transparency in the system and no proper routine is being followed in the operations of the vehicles. The present presidents are given only undue extensions.
They said due to mess created at present, the owners who operate nearly 2000 buses in Jammu region are badly suffering. Due to Covid already these transporters have suffered badly during last two years. They are unable to pay their bank loans. The Union/ Group heads are charging huge amount from transport operators for every trip of buses at various stations and there is no control. No proper documentation is maintained. The JDA rent worth lakhs has not been paid since long, This money is being used for their self and not for the welfare of the operators/ drivers. No proper audit is conducted for years. They are generating huge money every day. They demanded inquiry and streamlining of the system.
The transporters gave seven days ultimatum to the Administration, claiming they would launch indefinite agitation.
Prominent among those who spoke included Balbir Singh, Rashpal Singh, Baldev Singh Pappa, Harbinder Singh, Roshan Sharma, Babu Singh, Kanchan Singh and others.
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