Srinagar, Jan 19: The Kashmir Tourist Taxi Transporters’ Federation today came out sharply against the recent petrol price hike, while appealing the authorities to revise the passenger fares.
 At a meeting with its vice chairman Rafiq Ahmad Ganai in chair, the taxi operators said the increase in petrol price coupled with hike in passenger tax has broken the back of this segment of tourism industry in the state.
 “Already due to the abnormal conditions prevailing in the Valley, the tourist taxi operators are facing immense pressure on their livelihood, and now this hike has left the entire taxi operators’ community high and dry,” the meeting said.
 The operators said the frequent petrol price hike has been causing immense losses to them.
 The operators appealed to chief minister, Omar Abdullah, finance minister, minister for transport, and senior officials of finance and transport departments to revise upwardly the passenger rates of the tourist taxis.
 The operators also appealed chief minister and other ministers to withdraw the increase ordered in the passenger tax recently. 
 The operators also endorsed the statement by Chairman Local Service in which he had appealed the government to check the fast increasing prices of the oil and petroleum products.
 Among others the meeting was attended by general secretary Kashmir Tourist Taxi Transports’ Federation, Abdul Aziz Guru, federation chief, Abdul Rehman Soodhnari, and other representatives of the federation.
 Pertinently, the recent petrol price hike has also evoked sharp criticism in the Valley from traders as well as consumers.
 To mention, the State-owned oil companies had Saturday raised petrol prices by Rs 2.50-Rs 2.54 per litre, the second hike in a month, on back of rising crude oil prices.
 Indian Oil Corp, India’s largest fuel retailer, raised petrol prices by Rs 2.50 per litre with effect from midnight that night, while Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) hiked rates by Rs 2.54 a litre.
 Bharat Petroleum Corp, the third state fuel retailer, raised price by Rs 2.53 per litre.
 The three firms from December 15-16 raised petrol prices by Rs 2.94-2.96 per litre, the biggest hike in six months.
 Many consumers Greater Kashmir talked had said that the rising rates of petrol have made commuting unaffordable for them.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST