Mandi locals demand bus service to Jammu & Srinagar

Poonch, July 17:  While the Jammu and Kashmir government has launched the JKSRTC (Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation) bus service in several districts to provide affordable and dignified transport, especially for women and economically weaker sections, the people of Mandi Tehsil in district Poonch remain deprived of this crucial facility.
Local social activists, including Bhupinder Singh, Fayaz Dewan, and other prominent citizens, have expressed serious concern over the exclusion of Mandi from the scheme. They highlighted that Mandi is a densely populated hilly region where over 90% of residents live below the poverty line. The absence of government transport services is adding to the daily hardships of the people.
Speaking to the media, the activists pointed out that residents of Mandi frequently travel to Jammu or Srinagar for medical treatment, official work, and other essential needs. During such travels, they face multiple challenges, including high transportation costs and lack of safe and reliable travel options, which particularly affects women, the elderly, and the sick.
“If JKSRTC bus services are running successfully in other districts, then depriving a backward and underserved area like Mandi is a clear injustice,” they said. They demanded the immediate launch of JKSRTC bus services from Mandi to Jammu and Mandi to Srinagar, to provide relief to the people and ensure accessible, affordable, and safe travel – especially for women.