Jammu, May 26: The J&K government is mulling to increase the transport fare by 13 per cent from June, sources revealed.
It was reliably learnt that the Transport Advisory Committee of the government was expected to meet on Monday to discuss the transporters demand with regard to the hike in transport fare in view of the fuel price rise.
They transporters delegation met the Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon and discussed with him the problems being faced by them due to rising prices of fuel. Sources said the meeting decided that representatives of the transporters will meet the Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudanshu Pandey on Monday to discuss the issue to reach a common consensus so that people may not have to shell out more and demands of transporters were also met.
Last time the fares were increased in 2008 when the government increased fares to 14 per cent while transporters were demanding 20 per cent increase.
“The committee will decide the issue with transporters and a suitable decision will be taken keeping in view the peoples’ interests”, Akhoon told Greater Kashmir.
Sources said this time transporters were demanding 30 per cent rise in fares and had threatened to go on strike if demands were not fulfilled. They said though government was unlikely to accept their demands, but there could be some rise in the commercial fares with may go up to 13 per cent.
They said there was pressure from the transporters on the government keeping in view the tourist and pilgrim season in the state.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 IST