Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Transport Department today shifted the buses plying on Inter-State routes to Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) at Narwal.
However, the transporters along with traders held protest against this move of the department at BC Road.
According to sources, on the directions of Transport Minister Abdul Gani Kohli, a team from Transport Department led by RTO Jammu Ashwani Kumar Khajuria, ARTOs Swaran Singh and Kuldeep Singh and Inspectors from Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) reached BC Road and started shifting the buses plying on Inter-State routes to ISBT at Narwal.
As the news of the Transport Department spread, hundreds of transporters including drivers and conductors and traders reached the spot and expressed their anguish.
The transporters led by president of Tour and Travel Agents Association Ashu raised slogans against the Transport Department and tried to stop the Transport Department officials to comply with the orders of the Transport Minister.
The transporters including tour and travel agents said that there is no facility at ISBT for the passengers including washrooms, proper lightning system, etc.
Meanwhile, MLA East Rajesh Gupta and general secretary, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Arun Gupta also reached the spot and tried to intervene in the matter.
However, RTO Jammu along with other officers of the Transport Department carries forward the directions of the Minister and shifted the buses to the ISBT at Jammu. RTO Jammu also gave clear instructions for shifting of buses to the ISBT and the same will ply from there onwards.
When contacted, RTO Jammu Ashwani Kumar Khajuria told the EXCELSIOR that “We had already given ultimatum to the Tour and Travel Agents to shift the buses around 5 days back to ISBT at Narwal. But they did not cooperated and hence the department has to take action to implement the order of shifting the buses plying on inter-state routes to ISBT at Narwal.
He added that special teams will be deputed to keep check over the violation of the orders and strict action will be initiated against the offenders.
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