Srinagar, Nov 2: The All Kashmir Valley Transporters Association— a representative body of transporters, today issued one week ultimatum to the government to hike the passenger fares or face wheel jam.
 The transporters said the diesel prices had increased manifold over past some time while the passenger fares had not been increased.
 “The spare parts have also seen huge price increase over past some time. While we are incurring heavy losses, the government seems indifferent to our plight,” they said.
 Association chairman Ghazi Abdul Majid held a meeting of representatives of various transporters’ associations to discuss the issue.
 “We deliberated on the issue and unanimously reached to the conclusion that if the government did not increase the passenger fares, we will go for wheel jam,” he said.
 “The transport industry is facing severe problems due to hike in prices of diesel and spare parts. We have a number of times taken up the issue with the administration demanding passenger fare hike, yet our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” Majid said.
 He said: “We are giving one week time to the state government for increasing the fares. Otherwise we would be forced to stop our services.”
 Majid said earlier the government had assured them the fares would be increased before Darbar Move. “But no such order has been issued so far,” he said.
 He said:  “The transporters have raised huge loans for purchasing vehicles from the banks. We have to pay interest on such loans. But when we are not able to earn what suffices to our needs how can we pay the interest and bank installments?” he asked.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST