Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 11: Tempo Travel Owners’ Union (TTOU) J&K held a press conference today at Gho Adda Complex near MLA Hostel, B.C. Road, under the chairmanship of Kamal Kumar and Kali Dass, President of the Union. The primary focus of the meet was to urge the Jammu and Kashmir Government to address the pressing concerns faced by local tempo operators in the region.
During the conference, the Union strongly demanded a ban on outsider-operated tempo vehicles picking up passengers from Jammu. While they welcomed such vehicles entering the region with their own tour packages, they stressed that these should not be allowed to pick up any passengers from the local Jammu pool, as this was adversely affecting local business and livelihoods.
Highlighting the broader crisis facing the tempo travel industry, the Union noted that the recent attack in Pahalgam had already dealt a significant blow to tourism-related businesses. Coupled with lingering setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is under immense stress. The Union pointed out that the new permit fee had been hiked drastically—from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2 lakh—while the annual token tax for tempos had doubled from Rs 2,400 to Rs 4,800. Moreover, insurance premiums have also reportedly increased by more than 200%, making it even harder for tempo operators to sustain operations.
Another pressing issue raised during the conference was the shifting focus of tourism development from Jammu to Kashmir. According to the Union, this has left Jammu’s tourism infrastructure and workforce severely underutilized. They urged the Government to provide financial relief measures, including interest waivers, EMI support, and tax relaxations, to help struggling tempo owners and those dependent on the tourism sector.
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