Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Oct 7: Locals protested against overcharging by minibuses plying on different routes in Udhampur district and thus brazenly ignoring the fare chart issued to them by the Transport Department.
Led by Anil Pachayala, Ashok Chndyal, Abdul Banday and Gopal Pachayala, the protestors raised slogans against the District administration Udhampur and ARTO Udhampur. They alleged that minibuses and auto rickshaw plying on different routes in Udhampur district were brazenly ignoring the fare chart issued to them by the Transport Department.
As per the passenger fare list-2021 of the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO), minibuses or their equivalent vehicles are authorized to charge Rs 7 from passengers up to 3 km and Rs 10 for up to 5 km and Rs 12 for above 5 kms. However, there seems to be little or no adherence to this official fare list.
Passengers travelling on Udhampur routes like Salian Talab to Ghar Rehambal, Mini Bus Stand to Domail, DC Office to Vinas Chock, Salian Talab to Battal Balian, Dhar Road etc have complained of excessive fare being charged by majority of the mini-buses.
“Even though the fares have been fixed by the authorities, no list is pasted in minibuses for the convenience of passengers travelling in it,” they said and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to issue necessary instructions to concerned authorities for adherence to the official fare list so that people may not suffer.
Jugal Kishor Sharma ARTO Udhampur said that he would take action against the erring minibus operators and auto rickshaw besides ensuring that rate list is display by auto rickshaw and minibus.
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