Jammu, Dec 27: Passenger transport vehicles including long route buses, mini-buses, taxis and Sumos remained off the roads across Jammu province as a result of transporters’ strike, subjecting common man to hardships, especially thousands of Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
 The strike had a substantial impact on the working of Government as well as educational institutions as thin attendance was reported in the offices across the state. Most office-goers could not reach their places of work as the inter-region and inter-district connectivity was severely affected.
 Though the Government had plied additional State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses to ferry people in the city and on inter-district roads in the Jammu region, people particularly Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists had to face tough time and were seen walking with their luggage on city roads.
 The students had to walk miles to appear in their exams on Jammu University campus.
 Transporters staged demonstrations in different parts of the region to protest what they called high-handedness of the authorities. Hundreds of drivers and vehicle owners under the banner of All J&K Truck Operators Association assembled at Bikram Chowk and took out a protest rally up to Dogra Chowk.
 The protestors chanted anti-Government slogans and accused it of following anti-transporters policies. Similar protests took place at Satwari Chowk and Narwal.
 “Over 42,000 passenger vehicles from Lakhanpur to Leh were off the roads and there was a complete strike in all three regions. We have decided to give 10 days time to the Government for considering our demands and if no action is initiated to resolve our issues, we will resort to indefinite strike,” president All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association, Anil Chopra, told Greater Kashmir.
  “The Government did not consult the transporters before imposing such a harsh and unfriendly decision on transporters. Instead of helping the transporters facing various difficulties in plying their vehicles, the Government wanted to harass them. We are demanding scrapping of passenger tax and cases registered against drivers in connection with accidents under Section 307 of Ranbir Panel Code (attempt to murder),” the President of the Association said.
 He said that if the Government wants to impose passenger tax on the pattern of neighbouring states, it should also consider the demand of hike in passenger fare, which is lowest in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST