Srinagar, Mar 19: Minister for FCS &CA, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Information Technology, Science and Technology, ARI & Training Satish Sharma on Wednesday informed the Assembly that local transporters and tour operators in Jammu and Kashmir are not facing livelihood loss due to the operation of non-local transporters.
This statement came in response to a question raised by Shameem Firdous, President of the National Conference Women’s Wing and MLA Habba Kadal, who asked whether non-local transporters and tour operators are allowed to operate in the region and if their presence is affecting the livelihood of local operators.
Responding to these concerns, Sharma said that passenger vehicles coming from outside the state with an All-India Tourist Permit are allowed to operate in Jammu and Kashmir as per the All-India Tourist Vehicles (Permit) Rules, 2023. “These rules, issued under GSR 302(E) dated April 18, 2023, by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), were meant to facilitate seamless movement of tourist vehicles across the country with the required permit and fee payment.”
Sharma further said that the Motor Vehicles Department in the UT of J&K “conducts regular enforcement drives to monitor and check any violations by non-local transporters.” He emphasized, “There is no loss of livelihood for local operators, as strict enforcement measures are in place to ensure fair competition.”
He also highlighted that the J&K Tourism Department issues and renews the registration of Tourist Trade Units under the provisions of the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act/Rules.
