Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: All types of commercial transport operators including trucks, buses, mini-buses, taxies etc today announced to observe one day complete `Chakka Jam ‘ strike in the J&K UT on April 17.
A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of All J&K Transport Welfare Association held here today under the chairmanship of Ajit Singh. All the presidents, representatives, members of commercial transport Associations/Unions including trucks, tankers, buses, mini-buses, Tempo, Taxies etc were present during the meeting.
The speakers expressed strong resentment against the attitude of the JKUT Administration and said that they have been fed up with the response of the officers at the helm of affairs. They said despite Association’s repeated and sincere efforts to resolve the long pending issues of the transporters by submitting representations to the higher authorities, the officers’ casual approach and indifferent stance has forced them to adopt agitational path.
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Taking strong note of the casual approach of the authorities, the transporters today decided to observe complete strike and suspend operation of all types of commercial vehicles in J&K UT right from Lakhanpur in Jammu region to Uri in Kashmir on April 17, 2023. JKUT Government will be responsible for any kind of inconvenience to the general public, the Association said.
Ajit Singh said that transporters are demanding reopening of fitness certificate and renewal of route permits for all passenger commercial vehicles which has been halted due to passenger tax from 01-04-2023 and release of arrears on account of 37 % hike vide JKRTC/GML/Sgr/1003 dated 10-11-2021 under SRO 157 in freight charges for goods carriers engaged by the JKRTC. The file is doing rounds in the CAPD, they regretted.
The Association has resented illegal operation of e-Rakshaws and e-Autos in J&K UT and sought reanalyzation of MORTH proposal of running e-Rikshwas and e-Autos; it is strongly opposing rapid increase in fitness fee for all commercial vehicles. They said the order for the collection of Passenger Tax on quarterly basis of all passenger commercial vehicles is still pending. The Association sought intervention of Lt Governor into the matter.