Srinagar, Jul 19 (KNS): Flouting the government order on fare hike, public transporters across Kashmir are charging arbitrary rates from passengers.
Recently, the cabinet headed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took the decision of hiking passenger fare. As per the decision, the fare for big busses has been hiked by 13.7 5, medium and mini-busses 13.7 %, cabs and taxis 8.25 %, autos 2.85 %, and others 13.7 %.
However, the passenger vehicles including buses, minibuses, cabs, taxis, and autos are charging high fare in contravention to the order.
Passengers across Kashmir complain that the transporters are charging on their own whims and resort to abusing when they are informed about the government order.
“The transporters have hiked the fare as per their own will. Sumos vehicles have increased the fare by Rs 10, buses, minibuses and autos by Rs 5. This is violation of the order. The government should immediately address the issue,” Imtiyaz Ahmad, a passenger who travels in public transport daily from Srinagar to Baramulla.
Even the deputy commissioners are also receiving complaints from the public about the arbitrary hike.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, G M Dar told KNS that he will look into the complaints of the passengers on fare hike.
“I am receiving daily complains from passengers and public about arbitrary fare hike by transporters. I will look into the complaints and address them,” Dar told KNS.
Minister for Transport Sunil Sharma told KNS that the transporters cannot be allowed to violate the government order.
“I will look into the matter and take up the issue with transporters,” Sharma told KNS.
The people are saying that whenever the government takes decisions about public issues, it appeases the businessmen and transporters and does not take civil society on board.
“In fare hike too, the government resorted to appeasement of transporters and ignored the rights of public. Civil society is never consulted on such matters by the government,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama, told KNS. (KNS)