Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: The passenger transport in the State is all set to come to a standstill as the State Government is yet to take a final call on the report submitted by a committee formed to look into the demands of the transporters seeking 15 percent increase in the existing fares.
This is despite the fact that transporters have threatened to go on indefinite strike with a one day token strike being observed by them on November 19 in support of their demands.
Following persistent demands by the transporters to increase fare, the Government constituted a standing committee headed by then Principal Secretary, Finance and now Financial Commissioner, Finance, Iqbal Khanday to look into the demands of the transporters. The committee submitted its report to the Government for perusal but the report is yet to be considered by the Government.
The transporters have blamed the Government for the ‘inordinate’ delay and aver that they are suffering huge losses on account of less charging of fares from the commuters. They have threatened to go on indefinite strike in case the Government does not take any decision by November 19, with respect to their demands.
Talking to Excelsior, Vijay Kumar Sharma, General Secretary, All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association threatened that the transporters would carry out indefinite strike if the demands are not met by November 19. He said that the decision would be taken on November 19, adding that one day token strike would be observed on this day by the transporters.
“During meeting with the transporters on October 8 the State Government agreed to our demand of 15 percent increase in the fare. It was promised that the order would be issued before the closure of Durbar Move offices in Srinagar on October 25. More than one month has lapsed since the meeting but so far no order has been issued and the Government seems to be in slumber,” said Sharma.
Toeing the line of Sharma for an indefinite strike, Gazi Abdul Majeed, Chairman, Western Bus Service Batmaloo told Excelsior that the transporters cannot afford to run their business anymore on losses. Majeed said that State Government has no point in delaying the issuance of order after agreeing in principle to the hike the fares for all passenger vehicles in State.
“There would be complete Chakka Jam on November 19 right from Lakhanpur to Uri and no passenger vehicle would run on the roads. All the passenger buses, mini-buses, matadors, Tata Sumos and auto-rickshaws would be off the roads. The strike has been called to impress upon the State Government to concede our demand of increase in the fare for all types of passenger vehicles,” said Majeed who is also Chairman, Kashmir valley Private and Commercial Transporters Association.
One of the committee members and Transport Commissioner, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo told Excelsior that the committee members have submitted the report to the Government for perusal. Kakroo said that the Government is yet to go through the report, adding that it may take some more time for them to do this.
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