Srinagar: Transporters continue to face huge losses due to lockdowns after abrogation of Article 370 on 05 August 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Talking to media, General Secretary Transport Kashmir, Mohammad Yousuf said that, “Transporters are worst hit by the lockdown not only due to the pandemic, but we are suffering since Aug 5 2019 after abrogation of Article 370.”
“We are in loss of over Rs 700 crore from August 2019 which includes Rs 200 crore loss from April 2021 in a fresh lockdown imposed by authorities following Covid-19 spread,” Yousuf said.
Yousuf said that, “In previous lockdowns when we were asked to carry only 50 percent seat capacity and the fare was increased by 30 percent but in the ongoing lockdown administration has ordered for 50 percent seat capacity but no fare rate has been increased after ease in the current lockdown.”
“Price of petrol and diesel are already touching the sky and we have been asked to move only with 50 percent seat capacity and no hike in fare price. How can we continue our business with this arrangement,” he said.
The transporters claim that in total, Rs700 crore losses have been registered till now after abrogation of Article 370 on 05 August 2019, with around Rs200 crore losses incurred by the transporters alone during COVID-19 lockdowns.
