Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 30: Hundreds of Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims, school going children besides general public remained badly affected with the one day strike of the transporters across the region today.
All the buses, mini-buses, tempo travelers, taxis, Tata Sumos, auto-rikshaws besides other public transport vehicles remained off the road. The strike was complete and no private public transport vehicle was witnessed plying on the National Highway and other inter- district and interior rural routes.
Though State Government deployed some additional J&K State Road Transport Corporation buses on several routes including Railway Station and Katra Mata Vaishnodevi to cater to the rush of passengers yet vehicles were not sufficient to provide some relief to a large number of commuters as many areas remained uncovered. The attendance in schools and Government and the private offices also remained thin in the absence of public transport.
Jammu Railway Station witnessed massive rush of passengers as majority of the public use only this mode of transport readily available for travel. But for the further journey to Katra Vaishnodevi, different parts of Jammu city and other areas, they kept waiting for long for any plying vehicle available for journey. Even some of the passengers were seen taking a ride on horse carts and mini-goods carriers on certain routes.
Hundreds of passengers, mostly Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims in long queues were seen at the SRTC booking counter but hardly a few buses were available for the transportation. The passengers kept waiting for hours at the station for the buses. Similarly, a large number of pilgrims remained stranded at Katra and failed to reach on time at Jammu Railway Station and lost their trains.
On inter-State routes, the J&K SRTC, Punjab Roadways, HRTC DTC and Haryana Roadways kept plying smoothly but they were also found heavily loaded. On Jammu- Samba-Kathua, Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch, Jammu- Udhampur- Doda-Kishtwar, Ramban- Banihal, R S Pura and Akhnoor Pallanwalla route, a large number of passengers suffered. The schools children and many employees also could not reach their schools and offices.
Interestingly, in view of public transport strike, the traffic police men were also seen missing from the highways and their traditional naka areas on city and rural routes today. Many people were witnessed moving on foot and even seeking lift in the private vehicles.
Senior members of the transport unions including B B Gupta, Vijay Sharma and Anil Chopra said that transporters are demanding 40 % hike in the fare and freight charges. They alleged that due to hike in the price of petrol and diesel and insurance money besides taxes, transport operators are over burdened. They also alleged that despite several representations to the Government, the concerned senior officers remained silent forcing transporters to go on strike. They also regretted the great inconvenience caused to the general public.
Transport Commissioner, Sanjeev Verma when contacted said that Government has already framed a Sub Committee to review the fare of public transport and freight charges. He said the committee is on the job. Yesterday again the Government directed the committee to complete its job shortly and submit report. He said he himself, Joint Transport Commissioner and Secretary Transport, Mr Kakroo had sent messages to the representatives of All J&K Transport Welfare Association for dialogue with the request to set aside their strike programme as committee was also doing the job but unfortunately they went ahead with their programme causing inconvenience to the general public, tourists and pilgrims. He said in order to cater to the rush of passengers, SRTC had diverted their fleet to different routes.
Replying to a question whether demand of 40 % hike in fare and freight charges was justified and genuine or massive burden on public, the Transport Commissioner said hardly in December last year, 14 % hike was given in the fare and freight charges. Within one year, to give such massive hike will be great injustice to the public because for any Government public interest is supreme. He said the committee which is on the job has been directed to evaluate proportionate hike in fuel from December last besides any taxes if imposed and then work out hike proportionately. For such things a mechanism is available and during this one year period 5 to 6 times hike in fuel charges has been witnessed. With the hike in fare and freight charges the prices of other commodities including ration, eatables, vegetables etc also get affected and it will be additional burden on public. Therefore, all these things will be taken care of and a reasonable and justified hike in fare and freight charges, keeping in view interest of both the sides will be taken within two weeks, Mr Verma maintained.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of All J&K Transport Welfare Association today said that a meeting of the representatives of various Transport Unions and members of AJKTWA was held with the Deputy Transport Commissioner and RTO Jammu here today on the directions of Transport Commissioner. After two hour discussion on all issues and assurance from the Transport Commissioner telephonically to revise passenger fare, the transporters have resolved to call off their strike. He said if the Government failed to take a decision within 15 days, the transport would go on indefinite strike.
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