Transporters call off meeting

Srinagar, Nov 4: Call it fallout of grenade attack, All Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AKTWA) called off Tuesday’s meeting to discuss the resumption of public transport in the valley.

Sources said AKTWA called off Tuesday’s meeting in view of grenade attack at Hari Singh High Street.

“The meeting was convened to decide whether to resume the public transport in coming days or not,” a source said.

For the last three months, public transport has been off the roads, though the shops and business establishments open for three hours every morning.

 “We held a meeting last Saturday and discussed financial crunch faced by our members. The follow up meeting was scheduled to be held on Tuesday. But it has been called off,” said Shabir Ahmad Matta, chairman, AKTWA, an umbrella body of all transporters’ associations.

Matta, however, did not give any specific reason for calling off the meeting. “I won’t tell you why we cancelled the meeting. It has nothing to do with the grenade attack,” he said. 

 According to AKTWA figures, transport sector has suffered Rs 137 crore losses since August 5. 

“Each day, transport sector suffers more than Rs 15 lakh loss. We are the main sufferers of the current situation. The drivers and bus conductors are sitting idle for the last three months. They can’t even find a laborer’s job,” Matta said.

AKTWA chairman noted that many drivers have borrowed loan from the banks and they are unable to pay their monthly installments.