The government Friday said that it will take legal action against the drivers and transporters who are violating the order issued regarding the passenger fare hike.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, said action as per law will be taken against the transporters violating the government order on passenger fare hike.

“I have directed the RTO Kashmir to form squads to check violation of the order. Action as per law will be taken against the drivers and transporters who are found violating the order,” Khan said.

Recently, the cabinet headed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took the decision of hiking the passenger fare. As per the decision, the fare for 52 seater busses has been hiked by 13.7 5, medium and mini-busses 13.7 %, cabs and taxis 8.25 %, autos 2.85 %, and others 13.7 %.

However, the passenger vehicles including buses, minibuses, cabs, taxis, and autos are charging arbitrary high fare in contravention to the order, complained some commuters.

Passengers across Kashmir complain that the transporters are charging according to their their own whims and resort to abusing when they are informed about the government order.

“The transporters have hiked the fare as per their own will. Sumo vehicles have increased the fare by Rs 10, buses, minibuses and autos by Rs 5. This is violation of the order. The government should immediately address the issue,” Imtiyaz Ahmad, a passenger who travels in public transport daily from Srinagar to Baramulla.

Even the deputy commissioners are also receiving complaints from the public about the arbitrary hike.

Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad said that he is receiving complaints from the people about the arbitrary hike in fare by the transporters against the government order.

“The rates fixed as per the order have been published in the media and the transporters must not disobey the government order. I have already directed the ARTOs to inspect and check the violations. We will launch inspection drives and violators will face the law,” the RTO said.

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