Srinagar, May 10 (KNO): Passengers in Jammu and Kashmir faced difficulties in the last few days due to increased fare demands by some cab drivers, given the border tensions between India and Pakistan.
Many travellers said they were forced to pay higher charges on the national highway and other key routes, with no authorities stepping in to address the issue.
Passengers from various parts of the valley travelling between Jammu and Srinagar shared their concerns with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), revealing that fares have more than doubled, and they feel helpless against the exploitation.
Mateen Wani, a passenger from Shopian, recounted that a Tavera driver from his area forced him and a few students to pay Rs 16,500 from Jammu to Srinagar on Friday. Similar reports have emerged from travellers heading to Rajouri, Kishtwar and other destinations, who said they are being subjected to the same inflated charges.
Gulzar Ahmad, another passenger, said, “While the border situation is tense, some drivers are taking undue advantage of it by charging extra for rides. The fare from Jammu to Srinagar is now more than double the normal rate.” He added that most passengers paid these inflated charges because many drivers were unwilling to visit Kashmir amid the current circumstances.
Passengers sought the government's intervention, saying no one should be allowed to exploit the situation and that strict action must be taken against those charging excess fares. They urged authorities to ensure that travellers can reach their destinations without facing additional financial burdens or harassment during such hard times—(KNO)