New fare hike likely on next Monday
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 19: The ongoing deliberations on passenger fare revision for commercial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir entered a crucial stage today as representatives of the All J&K Transport Welfare Association held a detailed meeting with the Transport Commissioner and senior officials of the Transport Department.
The meeting was attended by prominent office bearers of the Association including Parvinder Singh- chief patron, Vijay Singh Chib- president, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Gurdeep Singh, Raj Kumar Choudhary and Labh Singh from Jammu. From Kashmir, Shabir Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammad Yousaf and Abdul Majid Gasi participated through video conference. Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir joined virtually.
On the administrative side, the Joint Transport Commissioner, RTO Jammu and the technical team were also present during the deliberations.
This was the fourth round of discussions of the Standing Committee on fare revision, taking place against the backdrop of rising fuel prices, higher maintenance costs and long-pending demands from transporters. Representatives of the transport fraternity stressed that existing fares have become unviable for operators and emphasized the need for a rational increase to ensure the continuity of public transport services.
Officials of the Transport Department, while acknowledging the concerns raised, maintained that any revision must strike a balance between the financial sustainability of operators and the affordability concerns of commuters. The technical team of the department also gave detailed inputs on cost structures and commuter impact so that the fare model is worked out on a scientific basis rather than through arbitrary calculations.
With this meeting marking the penultimate stage of the process, the final decision on the revised fare structure has been scheduled for next Monday. The outcome will have a significant bearing not only on commercial vehicle operators but also on lakhs of commuters across Jammu and Kashmir who depend on public transport for their daily travel needs.
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