| News Details |
| AJKPWA Opposes 18% Passenger Fare Hike, Calls It Unjust and Anti-Poor | |
Jammu, December 28 (Scoop News)-The All J&K Passengers’ Welfare Association (AJKPWA) has strongly opposed the recent 18 per cent hike in passenger fares, terming it unjustified, arbitrary and a direct assault on the already burdened common people of Jammu and Kashmir. The association has demanded that the government immediately roll back the steep hike, stating that it amounts to cruelty towards poor and middle-class passengers.
In a press statement issued here, AJKPWA President Pandit R.C. Sharma questioned the logic behind such a substantial increase in fares, especially when prices of petrol and diesel have not witnessed any significant rise over the past several years. He said the decision reflects a lack of sensitivity towards the economic hardships faced by the people of the Union Territory.
Pt. Sharma expressed serious concern over the constitution of the fare hike committee, pointing out that it did not include any representative from the passengers’ community. He described the committee as completely unbalanced and unjustified, stressing that the entire transport system exists to serve passengers and therefore their representation is essential in any decision-making process related to fare revision.
He further stated that transport operators are granted permits to serve the public and not to exploit them in the name of fare hikes. According to him, transporters are already making reasonable financial progress under the existing fare structure, leaving no genuine justification for such a sharp increase.
Highlighting the prevailing financial stress on the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the AJKPWA President urged the government to take a balanced, humane and people-centric decision. He suggested that even if a fare revision is considered unavoidable, it should not exceed 3 per cent, which he said would be more than sufficient under the current economic conditions.
Reiterating the association’s long-standing commitment to passenger welfare, Pt. Sharma appealed to the government to immediately withdraw the 18 per cent fare hike and convene a fresh meeting of the Fare Hike Committee. He also demanded that representatives of the All J&K Passengers’ Welfare Association be included in the committee, noting that AJKPWA has been consistently working for the rights and interests of passengers since 2014.
The association warned that failure to address the genuine concerns of passengers could lead to widespread resentment and further hardship for the common man, and urged the administration to act swiftly in the larger public interest.
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