Kashmir Transport Body ‘Defers’ Strike After Midnight Negotiations With Govt.

Kashmir Welfare Transporters Welfare Association, on Wednesday deferred its proposed ‘Chaka Jam’ (stop wheels) strike scheduled today after midnight negotiations with the government.

“There were two rounds of meeting with officers at Jammu during the day on Tuesday and both ended without any headway. However late last night we were called for a meeting which started at midnight and lasted till around 3 a.m.,” General Secretary of the Association Sheikh Mohammad Yousuf told GNS.

He said that the meeting was held under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner Jammu and was attended among others by Transport Commissioner J&K, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, SSP Jammu besides other officers.

“They accepted most of our demands in principles following which we decided to defer the strike,” he said, adding, “we have been assured that a committee will be constituted with regard to our demands regarding age of the vehicles while other four demands were agreed on the spot.” He said that Association along with other transport bodies including from Jammu decided to defer the strike. “We have not called off strike but only deferred it,” he added.

Among others, the Association demands roll back of the order dated February 7 by virtue of which age limit has been prescribed for the commercial vehicles. They have demanded “25 years age for the commercial vehicle be retained.”

With regarding to the installation of vehicle tracking device in the passenger vehicles, Sheikh Mohammad Yousuf said that the government has agreed that the device can be procured from open market and not from a few dealers designated by the transport department earlier.

He said that government also accepted demand of not allowing SRTC to run its fleet in a manner which was against directions by High Court and other laws. The government, he said, also agreed that there would driving license test for auto rickshaws and that passenger tax arrears would be paid in installments.