Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: The Poonch Group transporters sounded a serious alarm over the unchecked and rampant operation of illegal contract carriage tempos and taxis along the Jammu—Rajouri—Poonch route, accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to what they termed a “systemic subversion of transport’ discipline and law.
Addressing a press conference at General Bus Stand here today, Sher Singh, president. 3×2 Poonch Group, and Mohinder Singh, president, 2×2 Poonch Group, said that around 60-70 tempos ND Taxis bearing outside registrations from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been operating daily as state carriages from BC Road in open violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and despite being directed to operate from designated stands at Bhagwati Nagar and Gujjar Nagar. The illegal tempos, load passengers right outside the bus stand operate late, leaving while genuine permit holders and rent-paying bus operators remain high and dry.
This illegal operation has caused massive financial losses to local transporters and shopkeepers operating inside the JDA-allotted premises. The leaders- cautioned that due to this unchecked illegal activity new allottees are hesitating to open shops inside Bus Stand terminl, and law-abiding operators are finding it impossible to survive, “The very purpose of the multi-crore JDA New terminal is being defeated while unregulated operators continue to thrive,”’ he Group leader said.
They also drew attention to another urgent civic issue — the damaged pully at the out-gate of the Bus Stand, which has been causing massive congestion, delays, and confusion in the movement of buses and passengers. “Due to this broken mechanism, vehicles are stuck for long durations, forcing passengers to avoid entering the terminal altogether,” they said, demanding that JDA and JMC immediately repair and restore the out-gate facility on war footing.
Speaking on the occasion, general secretary, Paramieet Singh, who coordinated conference, said that “the transporters are not against competition, but against illegality. When outsiders operate unchecked and rules are flouted openly, the very very foundation of the system collapses.”
He urged the Divisional Administration and Transport Department to take exemplary action under Section 192A of the Motor Vehicles Act and to restore lawful operations within and around the Bus Stand.
The Poonch Group leaders have also appealed to the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and IGP, Transport Commissioner J&K, SSP Traffic Jammu, RTO Jammu, and MHO Bus Stand to intervene immediately and ensure fair enforcement and safety.
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