Srinagar, Apr 20 : Normal life was partially affected in Kashmir on Monday as private transport operators went on a strike to protest the proposed expansion of Smart City bus services to district routes, with agitators warning that the move would “destroy the livelihood of thousands of families.”
Private bus, Sumo, and Tavera drivers stayed off the roads and staged sit-ins at various bus stands across the valley, including in Srinagar.
“How will we feed our families if the government runs its buses on our routes? We have loans to pay and children to educate,” a transporter protesting at the Batmaloo bus stand told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).
Another operator alleged that the administration was “deliberately pushing private players out of business” to create a monopoly for government-backed services.
“We are not against development, but our survival is at stake. The government should first rehabilitate us before expanding its fleet,” he added.
The agitating operators demanded an immediate rollback of the decision to extend Smart City bus services to district routes.
Officials sources said private vehicles continued to ply normally, limiting the overall disruption in the city. The protests remained peaceful, and no major law and order issue was reported. (KNS)
