Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: A deputation of All J&K Passengers’ Welfare Association (AJKPWA) under the leadership of its president, RC Sharma called on Transport Commissioner, JK UT, Dr Owais Ahmed and handed over a memorandum containing the problems being faced by the passengers to him. The RTO Jammu, Dhananter Singh was also present during the meeting.
As per a release, the delegation apprised Transport Commissioner about the various issues related to the passengers and urged him to take immediate steps for their early redressal.
The demands included that the transporters should be made accountable, the last bus services be ensured and mandatory on several routes; dignity of passengers be maintained by the drivers and conductors especially in case of senior citizens & women; fixation of age of passengers’ vehicle drivers which should be minimum 28 years; route-wise and vehicle wise registration of drivers and conductors be made mandatory with concerned RTOs or ARTO offices; fifty percent fare of standing passengers as compared to normal fare; mandatory fixation of First Aid Box in every passenger vehicles; fitness certificate of every passenger vehicles should be done practically and not only documents.
It also demanded passengers’ insurance cover should be made at the cost of transporters; students’ concession in fare should be granted on all days including holidays and that too round the clock; passengers’ Complaint Cell should be established at every district & tehsil headquarters to facilitate the aggrieved passengers for lodging complaints; installation of GPS & CCTV in passengers’ vehicles should be made mandatory; proper utilization of Passenger Welfare Fund, the stoppage for the passengers’ vehicle should be fixed; immediate curbing of practice of playing loud and vulgar songs in the passengers’ vehicles; over loading on the roof tops be curbed etc.
The Transport Commiss-ioner Dr Owais Ahmed assured the deputationists that the demands would be considered and also a meeting of all stakeholders including passenger association will be called and the issues pertaining be resolved. The TC also instructed the RTO Jammu to take remedial steps in the case of demands put forth by the AJKPWA.