Flouting govt orders: Cab drivers continue overcharging from passengers
Anantnag: Even after government ordered that drivers should desist from overcharging the passengers, the residents of various areas of south Kashmir have accused Sumo cab drivers of charging extra money from them while commuting.
Passengers from various areas said that before covid-19 lockdown they used to pay Rs 100 as fare from Anantnag to Srinagar, however, due to Covid lockdown and reduction in the number of passengers per vehicle the cab drivers charged Rs 130 for the travel.
“Now that the restrictions to carry fewer passengers is over and the government ordered not to charge 30 percent extra from passengers we are forced to pay extra bucks on regular basis,” Nazir Ahmad, a commuter said.
He said that the same overcharging is prevalent on other routes in south Kashmir and there is no one to take care of the issue.
Meanwhile, residents of Dachnipora area of Anantnag district have also accused passenger vehicles plying on Anantnag– Bijbehara- Pahalgam route especially small cabs operators of overcharging.
They said that issue of overcharging often leads to heated arguments and verbal fights between passengers and drivers but to no avail as the authorities are in slumber.
Locals said that time and again they have informed the concerned higher ups to look into the issue but no one ever bothers.
Similar complaints were received from Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts as the commuters accuse cab drivers of overcharging.
They said that drivers continue to charge extra fare on almost every route in the area but authorities have failed to ease the sufferings of the people.
The locals have now appealed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and RTO Kashmir to look into matter and act tough against the drivers who are involved in overcharging so that passengers can heave a sigh of relief.
Jahangeer Ganaie
