Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: Angry over the decision of the J&K UT Administration capping the seating capacity in public transport at 50 per cent amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of transporters today staged a protest demonstration here, demanding a hike in passenger fare for their survival.
Led by Chairman of the All J&K Transport Welfare Association, T S Wazir, the protesters assembled near General Bus Stand here and launched their protest. They burnt the tyres of vehicles and shouted slogans in support of their demand.
Private transporters went on an indefinite strike on April 21 to protest against the UT Administration’s order allowing only 50 % seating capacity in passenger vehicles. They claimed that it was not feasible for them to ply their vehicles at 50 per cent capacity as the fuel prices are skyrocketing and they have already suffered huge losses since the outbreak of the pandemic.
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“It is very unfortunate that the Administration of a Union Territory is behaving like an autocracy. On the third day of our strike, we held a meeting with the Transport Commissioner and submitted our proposal to the government but no decision has been taken as yet,” Wazir told media-persons.
He said they were forced to take to the streets because the administration is not paying heed to their demands.
“We suffered huge economic losses last year on account of the Covid pandemic and the latest unilateral decision of the administration, without enhancing the passenger fare, is bound to hit the industry badly,” he added.
Wazir appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the issue on humanitarian grounds and save the people associated with the Transport Industry from starvation.
Last year, he said, the administration had enhanced the fare by 30 per cent after capping the seating capacity in public transport at 60 to 70 per cent. The protesters threatened to intensify their agitation in the coming days if the administration doesn’t reconsider its decision.
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