Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 20: The taxi operators of Railway Station Jammu submitted memorandum of demands to Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region and MoS PMO.
A delegation of taxi operators led by Anchal Singh Manhas, Ex-President, Taxi Operator Union Railway Station, Jammu, apprised Dr Singh about the problems being faced by them.
They stated that after the inauguration of Katra Railway Station by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and consequent extensions of trains to Katra railway station has made their lives miserable and they are at the verge of starvation.
“Prime Minister while inaugurating Katra railway station had promised that Railway Station Jammu will not become another Pathankot but the fact is that we are heading towards same fate. The tourism sector has seen a sharp decline after the extension of trains to Katra and the taxi operators are dying the unnatural death”, they stated.
They added that the parking fee charged by Northern Railway authorities on Jammu railway station from taxi operators is exorbitant and requested Dr Singh to waive this parking fee immediately.
To give impetus to the tourism of Jammu, Government should immediately start the new trains upto Jammu including Shatabadi Express and High speed trains, which may save the dying tourism sector that feeds a large section of society, they stated.
“We had taken the loans from various banks, financial institutes, private financial institutions and purchased new vehicles to serve the tourism in a better way but now situation has arisen that we don’t have any business to repay our loans. The banks are issuing notices and we fear that our vehicles will be confiscated and we will become bankrupts. We request you to waive off our loans”, they added.
They appealed to Government of India through Dr Singh to meet their genuine demands and rehabilitate them properly so that they can feed their families. If some solids steps are not initiated then days are not of far when our families will die of starvation, they said.
Dr Singh gave patient hearing to the delegation and assured them that their all issues will be taken up with the Railway authorities for an early redressal.
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