Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Nov 27: Locals protested at Battal Ballian against alleged overcharging of fare by some mini-buses plying on different routes in Udhampur district.
The protesting people raised slogans against the District administration Udhampur and ARTO Udhampur. They alleged that some minibuses and auto rickshaw plying on different routes in Udhampur were brazenly ignoring the fare chart issued to them by the Transport Department.
While elaborating, they said that as per the passenger fare list-of the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO), minibuses or their equivalent vehicles are authorized to charge Rs 7 per passenger for the distance up to 3 km; Rs 10 for up to 5 km and Rs 12 for above 5 kms.
However, they alleged, the minibuses were charging Rs 15 and also not giving 50 percent concession to the students. On questioning over charging more fare, the conductors misbehave with the passengers and ask them to get down from the vehicle, they added.
Passengers travelling on routes like Salian Talab to Ghari Rehambal, Mini Bus Stand to Domail, DC Office to Vinus Chowk, Salian Talab to Battal Balian, Mini Bus Stand to KV School and Dhar road etc have complained of excessive fare being charged by a majority of the mini-buses.
The protesting people appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to issue necessary instructions to concerned authorities for ensuring adherence of the official fare list so that people may not suffer.
Locals of Battal Ballian and adjoining areas joined the protest. They included Fatthy Singh, Sarpanch Ballian, Manmohan Raina, Amar Singh, Sohan Lal, Ram Lal, Chanchla Devi and Rita Devi.
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