Transporters’ strike affects life in Rajouri, Poonch

Rajouri, Jan 2: Absence of public transport vehicles including buses, mini-buses and auto rikshaws on roads of Rajouri and Poonch districts affected the normal life there.

The people had to walk for kilometers together to reach their destinations because of the lack of public transport.

The transporters are on a strike and not driving their vehicles to lodge protest against proposed changes in motor vehicles rules especially for road accident cases.

Due to protest by transporters on Tuesday, public transport vehicles remained off the road and only private vehicles like cars were seen plying. The situation turned a nightmare for people who are dependent on public transport facilities to reach destinations.

Students, elderly persons and patients were seen most affected due to this with many people were seen moving kilometers together in ill condition while aged people were seen pleading for lifts from private vehicles on roads.

"This is a nightmare like situation for us. We reached Rajouri town from our village for some work in bank but have no facility to go back to home," Ajit Singh from Jamola said who was waiting at Panja chowk of Rajouri with his elder brother.

Everyone not owns a private vehicle and half of the population in areas like Rajouri district still depend on public transport and absence of vehicles affects life badly, Singh said.

Drivers of public transport vehicles on the other hand raised their concern over the situation calling Government to shun any plan for amendment in MV norms which is against the wishes of people including drivers.