KTMF Backs Transporters, Opposes Expansion of Smart City Bus Services to Inter-District Routes

Srinagar, April 18: The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) has expressed strong support for local transporters, raising concerns over the proposed expansion of Smart City transport services beyond intra-district operations to inter-district routes.

In a statement issued to Ziraat Times, the Federation said it stands in “full support and unwavering solidarity” with the issues flagged by the All Kashmir Transporters Confederation (AKTC), warning that the move could seriously impact the livelihoods of local operators.

KTMF Chairman Abrar Ahmed Khan, who also serves as Chief Patron of AKTC, termed the proposed expansion an “existential threat” to transporters. He said local operators have invested their “blood and hard-earned money” into building their fleets, often under financial constraints and amid restrictive permit policies.

The Federation’s President, Hilal Ahmad Mandoo, echoed these concerns, stating that the broader trade community stands firmly with the transport sector. He cautioned that extending Smart City transport services to inter-district routes could weaken the local economy by diverting revenue away from regional stakeholders.

According to the statement, the Federation believes such a move risks “siphoning capital to outside entities” instead of strengthening local economic circulation.

The KTMF leadership has collectively called for an immediate administrative review of the proposal, urging authorities to ensure that modernization initiatives do not come at the cost of local livelihoods.

The statement emohasised the need to protect transporters, describing them as a critical pillar of the region’s economy, and stressed that policy changes must balance development goals with the interests of local stakeholders.