All J&K Transport Welfare Association Announces One-Day Token Strike Over Unresolved Demands
Jammu 09 December :- The All J&K Transport Welfare Association on Tuesday announced a one-day token strike, citing the government’s continued failure to address the long-pending and pressing demands of the transport community across the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference, Association Chairman S. Karan Singh Wazir expressed deep concern over what he termed the administration’s “apathetic and lackadaisical approach” toward the genuine issues repeatedly raised by transporters. He said that despite the submission of several memorandums to the Transport Department, Transport Minister, Transport Secretary, and Transport Commissioner, the grievances remain unaddressed, pushing the transport sector into both operational and financial distress.
Wazir outlined a series of unresolved issues that have been repeatedly brought to the government’s notice:Non-implementation of E-bus schedules and timetables finalized for Jammu, with a complete lack of action on similar planning for E-buses in Srinagar.A steep 200% increase in Fitness and Passing fees under the new MORTH notification, which transporters say was implemented without considering its economic impact on an already struggling sector.
Ineffective Automatic Testing and Fitness Centers, which Wazir said are “incapable of catering to the volume of transporters”. The Association has urged the Transport Commissioner to regularize Fitness and Passing procedures currently being managed by government-supervised facilities in all districts.Escalating issues related to E-Challans, including blacklisting, despite meetings held with the IG Traffic to discuss the matter. Wazir stated that no concrete steps have been taken to ease the burden on transporters.Tariff Revision Pending Since 2021, The Association expresses serious concern over the non-revision of transport tariffs, which has remained pending since 2021.
Despite multiple consultations with the government and the submission of detailed cost-of-operation reports by the Association, the Transport Department has not finalised the revised tariff structure. This prolonged delay has placed an unsustainable financial burden on transporters, whose operational costs have increased significantly over the past several years. The Association urges the government to expedite the tariff revision process to ensure the viability and survival of the transport sector.Wazir reiterated that the token strike is intended as a final warning to the administration before stronger measures are considered.
He appealed to the government to intervene urgently, stating that the survival of thousands of transporters and their families depends on immediate redressal of these long-pending demands.Strike Decision and Future Course of Action.
After extensive discussions with its members and presidents of all transport groups across Jammu and Kashmir, the Association has unanimously decided to observe a one-day token strike. The Association further stated that if the government does not take immediate steps to fulfil the pending demands, it will be compelled to call for an indefinite strike.Members PresentThe press conference was attended by senior members of the Association, including: Vijay Singh Chib, Parvinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, Labh Singh, Balbir Singh, Ranjit Singh, Sanjeev Choudhary, Vijay Dogra, Niranjan Singh, Shanti Saroop. and Gaurav Kapoor.