Tourist transporters face financial crisis, seek Govt's intervention

Srinagar, Aug 4: In the aftermath of the Pahalgam tragedy, Kashmir’s tourist transporters have issued an “emergency appeal” to the government, demanding urgent financial aid, policy support, and a complete ban on unregistered vehicles ferrying tourists.

Speaking at a press conference under the banner of Paradise Tourist Maxi Cab Operators Association, the leadership—including President Sajjad Ahmad and other office-bearers—acknowledged the government's efforts to boost tourism but stressed that the transport segment is being neglected despite being a core pillar of the industry.

As per the statement issued by the association, licensed tourist transporters who follow all legal norms are being pushed to the margins by the rampant use of private, unregistered vehicles. This not only undermines their earnings but also leads to service complaints and raises ecological and regulatory concerns.

The Association blamed the ongoing influx of unlicensed vehicles—some from outside J&K—for damaging the local economy and called for their immediate ban. They also urged the government to allow only All India Permit vehicles for tourist operations within the Union Territory.

According to the Association, the Pahalgam incident has triggered a steep fall in tourist footfall, leaving many transporters unable to repay bank loans. A growing number of vehicles, they warned, are now at risk of being declared NPAs.