Budgam residents accuse transport department of to enforce prescribed fare charges

JAMMU, DEC 07 (PTK): The residents of central Kashmir’s Budgam have accused transport department of failing to enforce Government prescribed passenger fare charges from Srinagar to Budgam route.

The villagers complained that in absence of the proper monitoring mechanism by Transport department, the common man is forced to pay extra fare according to the will of sumo drivers.

“Earlier we used to pay 10 rupees for the 4.5-kilometer distance but now charge us 30 rupees for the same distance,” Farooq Ahmad a local while speaking to News agency Press Trust of Kashmir.

The residents said that they had raised the issue with district authorities lot of times, even transport department got an order in 2017 for the passenger fare charges per km wise in the area but ironically the circular remained confined to papers only. They added that transport department is resorting to inordinate delay in implementation of the order on the ground.

Majeed Ahmed a resident of Budgam said due to lack of check by the concerned department, transporters are taking undue advantage of this and charge as per their will.

“We are left with no option, but to pay according to the will of drivers,” he said.

He added that the officials of transport department and tehsil level officers are well aware of the overcharging practice of doctors but they are turning a blind eye towards the suffering of common masses.

“We urge concerned authorities to intervene and keep a regular check on transporters charging arbitrarily from passengers,” he added.

When contact RTO Budgam he said that “it is the fixed rate for stop to stop, and do come office for further details.

He added “Don’t’ call me right now I am busy with election”. (PTK)