Srinagar: Amid the ongoing lockdown, various transporters here have asked the administration to consider announcing unlocking measures for public transport, as the prevalent situation, according to them, has left a trail of financial miseries.
Several transporters at Parimpora bus stand told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that they have been damaging their vehicles to sell the items in the market to meet their daily needs.
“Our families have been pushed to the starvation by this situation. We have been promised of compensation and support many times so far, but nothing has been done in this regard. We were even promised that the amount of insurance will be returned to us, but the government has failed to come up to the expectations of transporters,” Abdul Rashid, a bus driver said.
He said they are not able to meet the daily needs due to the prevalent situation, saying that they are now selling the items of their busses to feed their families.
Nissar Ahmad, another driver said that the public vehicles are being allowed to ply normally elsewhere in the country while the transporters are being harassed in J&K for one reason or the other.
“The lockdown must not continue. If the government is serious in containing the virus, it should ensure SOPs are followed in TRC busses as well,” he said.
Muhammad Sultan General Manager Bus Stand said that the transport industry is on the verge of extinction.
“The transporters here have been facing tremendous hardships since the government shifted the bus stand from Batamaloo to Parimpora. The transporters have always been left at God’s mercy as the government despite claiming high and tall has failed to extend any support to the transporters,” he said.
They later appealed to the government to take adequate measures so that they can earn their livelihood again. —(KNO)
