Srinagar: Regional Transport Officer Qazi Irfan on Tuesday said that no increase has been effected in transport fares so far, clarifying that any revision will only come into force after formal approval by the government.
Talking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the RTO said that the Transport Commissioner had held deliberations with transporter bodies from both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. During these discussions, a proposal recommending an increase of a specific percentage in bus fares was drafted and submitted to the Fare Fixation Committee, which subsequently forwarded it to the government for consideration.
“The proposal is presently with the government. Till date, there has been no increase in any transport fare. The decision now rests with the government, and only after approval will revised rates be officially notified,” he said.
On the issue of outside vehicles being purchased by locals, the RTO said such vehicles are mandatorily required to be registered with the local transport office along with complete documentation. He pointed out that no objection certificates have a validity of only six months, but there are cases where vehicles brought from outside states have not been re registered for two to three years, which constitutes a clear violation of rules.
He said the transport department has taken note of such cases and enforcement action will be taken to ensure compliance with registration norms.
Addressing traffic congestion in Srinagar city, the RTO said every effort is being made to ease pressure on roads. He said measures such as restricting the movement of e rickshaws on major routes have already been implemented as part of a broader decongestion strategy.
“This is not a one time exercise. Traffic management is a continuous process, and further steps will be taken in coordination with the traffic department to improve movement in the city,” he added. [KNT]
