SRINAGAR: As the transporters have called for one day strike in Jammu against frequent use of e-buses in busy areas, life has come to a standstill in the Jammu city.

People were seen walking on foot along with their kids and families as there was no commercial vehicle plying on the road.

Union president Vijay Chib said that they had reached an agreement with administration to run e-buses in areas which are least connected.

"But now e-buses are plying on busy routes as well which is putting risk to our livelihood. Administration must think about our earning as well,” he said.

Earlier, he said that during introducing e-rickshaws previously, the government failed to address the issue of Auto owners, which rendered them unemployed.

He said they have purchased their vehicles through loans, but as their livelihood gets affected, they won’t be able to pay the monthly installments.

Another transporter said , “e- Buses are meant for uncovered areas of city, and if they want to ply on overpopulated route, the government should think about our livelihood too. This issue has severely affected our livelihood, and we are hardly earning bread and butter for our families”. 

The bus operators said that around 80 of their buses have been affected due to the issue and appealed Lieutenant Governor led administration to look into the issue.

SRINAGAR: All the passenger vehicles in Kashmir valley will observe a two-day 'Steering Chodo Andolan' on January 9 and January 10.

Talking to GNS, Chairman All Kashmir Transporters' Confederation, Mohammad Shafi Mir that the strike has been called by transporters in Maharashtra, New Delhi and several other states to which the Kashmir based transporters' confederation has mutually decided to extend its cooperation.

"All types of passenger vehicles will observe the 'Steering Chodo Andolan' on January 9 and January 10", Mir said. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the All JK Oil Tankers Association had in a video-statement rebuffed reports of any strike given by the association. 

The transporters have been demanding the roll back of penal provisions introduced by the GoI regarding hit-and-run cases. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri today chaired a meeting to review the Selection of the Agency for operations of Water Transport Services in River Jhelum Dal Lake in Srinagar.

The Water Transport is a flagship project of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) which aims to revive the water-based public transport system in Srinagar City.

Speaking on the occasion, Div Com  directed SSCL to expedite the RFP preparation focusing on the lines of the eBus contract model.

He  emphasized the need for a water transport system as an additional mode of transport.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir also directed SSCL to finalize the routes and fare structure and call for tenders expeditiously.

He said that water transport will bring vibrancy to water bodies and become new attraction for locals and tourists.

The meeting was attended  by  Member, Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority, Commissioner/ CEO SSCL, ACEO SSCL, General Manager, Planning SSCL, Chief Engineer, SSCL and team of consultants. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir Government provided transport service to 12,497 tribal communities and transported more than 1.56 lakh livestock under biannual migration (transhumance) from Kashmir valley to Jammu.

The Tribal seasonal migration from highland pastures ends with onset of snowfall in the Kashmir valley and the Government under its initiative for supporting biannual migration, 12,497 tribal communities provided transport service along with the 1,56,215 livestock.

The scheme initiated by the Tribal Affairs Department in 2021 is being implemented through District Administrations under supervision of Deputy Commissioners and transport fleet provided by the J&K Road Transport Corporation, an official spokesman said.

Tribal seasonal migration from highland pastures ends with onset of snowfall in Kashmir and enables them to save Rs 74.18 Crore for migration.

More than 12,000 families and around 70,000 people benefited under the initiative this year which is the highest since the launch of the initiative.

These include 86,192 from Anantnag, 22,221 from Ramban, 12,714 from Kulgam, 10,223 from Pulwama, 9758 from Ganderbal, 6897 from Shopian, 3593 from Srinagar, 17,48 from Budgam, 1717 from Bandipora and 1152 from Baramulla. The arrangements at district level were supervised by the respective Deputy Commissioners.

The concept of transport service was introduced after the 1st International Conference on Transhumance held in Albania in 2021 and shared International best practices for sustaining transhumance and supporting the pastoral communities in migration to avoid conflict, mitigate losses and establish institutional mechanisms.

Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that as per 2021 survey conducted by the department, tribal families possess an average livestock of 12.48 and family size is 5.8.

This year total livestock numbering 1.56 lakh was transported along with the families from various districts of Kashmir to Jammu.

An evidence-based approach to public policy has been introduced to acknowledge the rangeland management and environmental conservation services provided by the migratory tribal families based on which transport service is being provided as an incentive.

Choudhary informed that at an average each family saves 20 days of transit and taking into account man-days and prevailing wage rates there is saving of Rs 20,380 per family of 3 adults and additional saving of transport costs up to Rs 40,000.

He said that notional savings of these families during the current migration season is Rs 25.46 Crore for days saved and Rs 48.72 Cr for transportation and other expenses.

These initiatives lead to poverty reduction and also safeguarding the livestock against losses related to accidents, exhaustion deaths and climatic conditions. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Authorities in the Regional Transport office here on Friday asked all the registered dealers, officers, officials of the Motor Vehicle Department and insurance agencies not to make any sale, purchase  or register any vehicle involving a minor.

A circular, issued by the Office of the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kashmir, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), reads that it has observed that motor vehicle dealers have sold and registered motor vehicles in the name of minors, which amounts to a violation of Section 10 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

In the circular, it is underlined that under the Indian Contract Act, 1872, any sale agreement executed with a minor is deemed void abinitio, adding that a registered motor vehicle along with its registered owner is a legal person and in case of violation of provisos of motor vehicle laws and rules made thereunder, by any such vehicle invokes penal action against the owner.

“Now, therefore, in the interest of law and justice, it is enjoined upon all the registered dealers, officers/officials of the motor vehicle department, the general public, insurance agencies, and other stakeholders, not to make any sale/purchase or to register any vehicle involving a minor,” the order reads (KNO)

SRINAGAR: The authorities have started night bus services on several routes including on Boulevard-DalGate-Lal Chowk and Qamarwari-Chadura Srinagar to ensure hassle-free and reliable movement to the general public and tourists alike, especially during evening hours.

Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir, Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari told GNS that the move aims to provide a reliable transport system in the evening hours to the people intending to move in and around Lalchowk, Dalgate and Boulevard roads and Qamarwari-Chadura Srinagar.

Bukhari said that night bus service is not a new phenomenon but a special design has been taken into due consideration after special directions from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir - to provide the service in areas which were neglected previously.

A bus service in the evening is available through the Mill Stop from Lal Chowk to Soura Srinagar. “During my visit to Qamarwari, I found there also was no significant service available to the public between the said area and Chadura”, he said.

The Dalgate-Boulevard and Lal Chowk road are being modified to beautify the area, Bukhari said adding due to the ongoing work, the areas would wear a gloomy look due to less movement and closure of shops. “As the buses would go off from the roads, no shopkeeper would have the confidence to operate and open a shop during the night time and not even the locals would be having confidence to go to Lal Chowk during night hours”, Bukhari said.

To assure the people that they can travel during the night time, the night bus services have been as such started in Srinagar. “With Lal Chowk the heart of the City and being flanked by Boulevard, we expect a rush of tourists there and this initiative (night bus services) will have a great role to play in coming days.

There are many locals and visitors who crave to watch the laser show and enjoy boat-ride in Dal lake, but bereft of any personal transport and scarcity of public transport on roads would force them to give up their plans, however now with the beginning of night bus service we expect that there would be many people who would use the service to visit such places as per their convenience. (GNS)