Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has raised serious concerns over a restriction barring its buses from entering Srinagar city, citing significant disruptions to public transportation and a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh. The entry ban has been in place since November 4, coinciding with the start of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session. Under the new measure, buses from north Kashmir districts are stopped at the Bemina Bypass, while those from the south are halted at Pantha Chowk. The Managing Director (MD) of JKRTC has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, to highlight the hardships faced by the public and the urgent need for the issue to be addressed at the highest administrative level.
The MD pointed out that the Corporation’s earnings from operating these buses had been approximately Rs. 8 lakh daily, but with the restriction in place, that figure has been cut in half, causing severe financial strain on the state-owned entity. This has also impacted thousands of commuters who rely on affordable bus services for their daily travel.
The letter further detailed that in 2020-21, the J&K Government had allocated Rs. 200 crores to JKRTC, allowing the Corporation to acquire a fleet of 655 pollution-free, BS-VI buses and trucks. Of these, 125 buses were dedicated to inter- and intra-district routes, becoming essential for residents, particularly in the Kashmir Division. “These buses had been operating uninterrupted since October 2021 and had become a lifeline for the poor,” the MD said, underscoring that the investment had helped the Corporation move toward financial sustainability and better serve the public.
The continued restriction is seen as a setback that threatens not just the Corporation’s financial health but also the well-being of the residents who depend on these services for their mobility. The JKRTC has urged authorities to find a solution that balances security concerns with the need for public transport accessibility.
