Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 28: Police detained at least a dozen transporters attempting to protest at Partap Park in Srinagar against restrictions barring private buses from operating on city routes.
The transporters were protesting what they described as the illegal operation of RTC and Smart City buses on Srinagar routes while private buses faced restrictions.
Carrying placards and banners with messages like “Stop illegal operation of RTC buses beyond Parimpora and Pantha Chowk,” the protesters raised slogans before being taken away by the police in vans. Click here to watch video
“We were moved from Batamaloo to Parimpora, where there are no facilities. If private buses cause traffic congestion, why are nearly 85 RTC buses allowed to run on city routes? Don’t they contribute to congestion as well?” a protester questioned.
Another protester voiced frustration over financial struggles, saying, “We were told to buy new vehicles, which we did by taking loans. Now, we are barred from operating, making it impossible to pay our bank installments. Either allow us to run on the same routes as RTC buses or bar them too. Otherwise, we will intensify our protests.”
The protesters appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene, emphasizing that a single bus supports the livelihoods of around ten families. “We will continue raising our demands until action is taken to resolve our grievances,” one protester said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
