Srinagar, April 29: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved an 18 per cent increase in the maximum chargeable fares for public transport vehicles across the Union Territory, marking the first major revision in recent years.
According to an official notification issued by the Transport Department, the revised fare structure will apply to a wide range of commercial passenger vehicles, including buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and other shared transport services. The decision has been taken under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and partially amends an earlier fare notification issued on March 19, 2021.
Officials said the hike covers big, medium, and mini buses, as well as taxis, maxi cabs, tourist cabs, auto-rickshaws, and Tata Magic vehicles operating across urban and rural routes in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has also, for the first time, notified separate fare rates for electric public transport vehicles, reflecting a gradual shift toward cleaner mobility options. As per the revised structure, fares for e-rickshaws have been fixed at ₹15 per kilometre, while e-autos will charge ₹25 for the first kilometre and ₹20 for each additional kilometre.
The fare revision comes amid rising operational costs faced by transport operators, including fuel price fluctuations and maintenance expenses. While the government has not explicitly cited reasons in the notification, transport stakeholders have long been demanding a revision, arguing that the previous fare structure had become economically unviable.
The increase is expected to impact daily commuters across the Union Territory, particularly those reliant on public and shared transport for work, education, and essential travel. At the same time, the inclusion of dedicated tariffs for electric vehicles signals policy intent to encourage adoption of environmentally sustainable transport solutions.
Authorities are expected to issue further guidelines on implementation and enforcement to ensure compliance with the revised fare structure.
