By: Bhushan Parimoo
The transport industry in Jammu & Kashmir serves as the vital economic and social lifeline of the region. The drivers and conductors who steer it under hazardous working conditions, severe financial instability, and a total lack of social security benefits.
As observed, there is a critical disconnect between central welfare frameworks and ground reality. While ambitious infrastructure mandates and welfare initiatives look exemplary on paper, their practical implementation in J&K remains a distant dream, leaving drivers exposed to severe human, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities.
They have to face, per force, extreme vagaries of weather and environmental conditions in all seasons due to factors entirely beyond their control.
Long hours in vehicles, heat exhaustion, and fatigue during summer months. Winter driving introduces freezing temperatures, icy roads, and dense fog, which dramatically increase accident risks and cause physical discomfort.
They must adhere to strict public transit timetables regardless of sudden weather shifts or severe storm warnings.
When drivers are stranded due to poor road conditions without access to shelter, clean food, water, or medical kits, the immediate priority is to ensure basic survival safety, conserve physical energy, and use emergency lines or passing vehicles to signal for help.
Tricky terrain and severe road safety challenges
Tricky mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather, and long transit times make driving exceptionally hazardous.
It faces severe road safety challenges with high numbers of accidents and fatalities. According to data presented by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Parliament, the region experiences a disproportionately high fatality risk per accident due to challenging terrain and treacherous highway stretches.
While transport volume grows exponentially, the underlying infrastructure lags behind. It impacts daily life, economic growth, and safety.
The Supreme Court of India and various High Courts have repeatedly ruled that the Right to Life includes the right to safe, motorable roads. Negligent road maintenance that leads to accidents or cuts off access to healthcare is increasingly viewed as a violation of this right.
It requires achieving a structural shift to ensure their safety, well-being, and dignity. This requires coordinated action from both the government and civil society across three main pillars.
Linking road safety and driver amenities to the Right to Life
Hon’ble Supreme Court of India marks a major step forward, officially linking road safety and driver amenities to the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
By ordering the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to build truck lay-byes and wayside amenities every 75 km, the court addresses a long-standing gap in driver welfare.
The Court stated that safe travel on public roads is a basic human right.
Observe severe collisions are caused by stationary trucks blocking high-speed lanes. As such, issued a nationwide order in April 2026 banning heavy and commercial vehicles from parking.
To prevent highways from becoming “corridors of peril,” the Supreme Court mandated that every wayside amenity must include:
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For long-route drivers to sleep and fight fatigue.
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Clean, functional washrooms and toilets to ensure basic human dignity.
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Dedicated, secure parking zones to eliminate dangerous roadside parking.
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Food & Health: Eateries, first-aid facilities, and clear retro-reflective signage for night visibility.