Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: Highlighting their grievances because of COVID-19 restrictions, members of Tempo Traveller Owners Union have demanded a relief package in terms of concession in taxes, waiver of interest over the loan and enhancement of passenger fare.
While addressing a press conference, here today, President of the Union, Kali Das Verma said that owners of Tempo Travellers were in deep trouble since the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown.
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“The owners have purchased Tempo Travellers by disposing of their land, property and taken loan from banks with the objective that they could earn their sources of sustenance, but the pandemic situation and restrictions have caused heavy losses to them,” he said.
Explaining that no business was carried out for the last four months and they were not in a position to pay salaries to drivers and pay the loan installments, Kali Dass also drew attention towards the heavy taxes, which is extra burden on them.
Devinder Kumar, Chairman of the Union, explained that the authorities have permitted them only six passengers against the capacity of 12 whereas only 30 percent increase in fare has been allowed. “The number of passengers has reduced to 50 percent whereas the hike in fare is only 30 percent and it is not possible for us to pay salary to the driver, meet fuel expanses , depreciation of vehicles and fee the family,” he said.
The Union leaders appealed the Lt Governor of J&K to look into the grievances of small transporters, who are solely dependent on tourism and have been facing odds of life due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We demand a suitable relief by way of full concession in Token Tax, Passenger Tax, Insurance, waiver of interest over the loan and deposition of loan installments only after normal business resumes,” they said and also demanded that the rates of passenger fare be fixed in such a manner than limiting the capacity may be compensated, particularly in view of hike in fuel prices.
Others, who were present in the press conference, included Sameer Singh, Gernail Singh, Arun Slathia, Abhi Singh, Harjit Singh, Dharam Paul Kataria and Suraj Parkash Gupta.
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