Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved an 18 percent hike in fares for various categories of commercial passenger vehicles across the Union Territory, issuing a fresh notification in this regard. The Transport Department, in a notification issued from Civil Secretariat, has directed the Transport Commissioner, J&K to fix the revised maximum chargeable fares for different categories of vehicles, including stage carriage buses, taxis, maxi cabs and auto-rickshaws. The notification states that the revised fare structure will be applicable over and above the rates notified earlier vide SRO-97 dated March 19, 2021, covering big buses, mini buses, contract carriage taxis such as Sumo, Bolero, Tempo Traveller, as well as medium and premium segment tourist vehicles including Scorpio, Xylo, Innova and Fortuner. It further specifies that auto-rickshaws and Tata Magic vehicles operating as stage carriages will also witness an 18 percent increase in fares under the revised structure. Meanwhile, the government has separately fixed fares for electric vehicles, stating that e-rickshaws will charge ₹15 per kilometre, while e-autos will charge ₹25 for the first kilometre and ₹20 for each subsequent kilometre. The order has been issued by the Transport Department under powers conferred by Section 67 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, partially modifying the earlier notification, and will come into effect as per the directions of the competent authority. |