Alleging that minibuses were overcharging from passengers, locals held a protest at Battal Balian.The protest was held under the leadership of Fathy Singh and the protesting people raised slogans against the District administration Udhampur and ARTO Udhampur. They alleged that minibuses and auto rickshaw plying on different routes in Udhampur district were brazenly ignoring the fare chart issued to them by the Transport Department.“As per the passenger fare list-2021 of the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO), minibuses or their equivalent vehicles are authorized to charge Rs 7 from passengers up to 3 km and Rs 10; up to 5 km, Rs 12 and Rs 15 are being charged for the distance,” they alleged, adding that passengers travelling on Udhampur routes like Salian Talab to Ghar Rehambal, Mini Bus Stand to Domail, DC Office to Vinas Chock, Salian Talab to Battal Balian, Dhar road etc have repeatedly complained of excessive fare being charged by a majority of the mini-buses.“Even though the fares have been fixed by the authorities, no list is pasted in minibuses for the convenience of passengers travelling in it,” they further said.The protesting people appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to issue necessary instructions to concerned authorities for adherence to the official fare list so that people may not suffer.
