J&K transport strike throws life out of gear

SRINAGAR: Even as the state government is weighing a cut in tax on fuel, private transporters in Jammu & Kashmir went on a four-day strike from Monday demanding a reasonable hike in fares to meet the increasing input costs.

Life was thrown out of gear across the state on the first day of the strike as more than one lakh vehicles remained off the roads, leaving commuters in a lurch.

“We did not want to inconvenience the public, but the government’s rigidity has forced us to take this extreme step. There has been no increase in fare for last few years though the fuel and other inputs costs have risen sharply. We demand a reasonable hike in fares so that we can meet our costs,” said GM Bhat, vice-chairman J&K Transporters Welfare Association.

Bhat expressed readiness to enter into negotiations with the government. “The government has not opened channels of communication. We are ready to talk and call off our strike but the government should give assurances on the fare hike,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state government on Monday constituted a three-member committee to look into the demands of the transporters.    An official spokesman said the cabinet, which met here under chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, approved the constitution of a committee comprising secretaries of finance, general administration department and transport commissioner.

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