Transport Bodies Raise Concerns Over Proposed Operations of App-Based Taxi Services at Jammu, Srinagar Airports
Srinagar, June 18, KNT: Transport bodies across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday demanded a comprehensive security and regulatory audit before permitting any app-based cab aggregator to commence operations at Srinagar and Jammu airports.
Addressing a joint press conference in Srinagar, representatives of the Jammu Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association (JKTWA), airport taxi unions and transport federations expressed concern over reports regarding the proposed entry of NOVA Cabs at the two airports.
JKTWA Chief Patron Devinder Choudhary said the transport fraternity was not opposed to technology-driven transport services but maintained that airport operations required rigorous scrutiny owing to the sensitive nature of airport infrastructure.
He said any aggregator seeking permission to operate from airport premises must first satisfy all statutory requirements relating to driver verification, vehicle documentation, insurance coverage and compliance with applicable licensing and aggregator regulations.
President of the Srinagar International Airport Taxi Association, Mohammad Ashraf Lone, said hundreds of families dependent on airport taxi services could face uncertainty if decisions affecting the existing transport ecosystem are taken without adequate consultation.
He urged authorities to avoid any perfunctory assessment of the issue and ensure that all stakeholders are heard before a final decision is taken.
Speaking on the occasion, Jammu Airport Taxi Union President S. Gurdeep Singh said the matter warranted uniform examination by the Transport Department, Police, CID and Airports Authority of India, emphasizing that security considerations must remain paramount.
The transport leaders welcomed recent enforcement measures undertaken by the Transport Department and urged the administration to apply identical standards while examining proposals relating to airport cab aggregators.
Warning against any regulatory obfuscation, the association appealed to the government, Transport Commissioner and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to address their concerns. They cautioned that if issues relating to security, compliance and livelihood protection remain unresolved, transporters across Jammu and Kashmir may consider democratic and lawful forms of protest. [KNT]
© Kashmir News Trust (KNT). Unauthorized use without attribution is prohibited.
