Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Zulfkar Ali today said that Government would ensure that strict action is taken against the offenders to check the traffic irregularities in the State.Chairing a high level review meeting on curbing unfair practices of charging unreasonable fares in Taxi, auto rickshaws, and cabs in the State, the Minister said that it is the Government’s duty to protect the rights of its people, and the Government would ensure that it will deliver its duty to its fullest.“Habitual offenders should be dealt with strictly,” Mr. Zulfkar Ali instructed.During the meeting, the Minister directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to provide adequate number of sign boards to Department of Transport who will install them at registered auto stands in the City, and the RTO would print fares of various places on the boards.To ensure people are charged Government notified rates only, the Minister directed Inspector General Traffic to intensify checking and ensure consumers are not over charged.
He also directed Transport Commissioner to submit a list of all off-road and on-road auto-rickshaws to IG Traffic who will initiate action against the unregistered vehicles after proper police verification. The move will help the Department to get a clear picture of the registered vehicles and secondly it will check the revenue loss due to non-renewal of unregistered auto-rickshaws.The Minister also directed the concerned officers to ensure that no auto-rickshaw plies on the road without having meters. He directed the officials to ensure that every auto-rickshaw prominently displays the rate list in prominently. He said that Government is committed to provide reliable and cheap transport facility to people.The meeting was attended by Secretary CA&PD, Transport Commissioner J&K, IGP Traffic Kashmir, DIG Police Kashmir, Commissioner SMC, SSP Traffic Kashmir, Jt Controller Legal Meteorology Kashmir, Jammu, RTO Kashmir, Jammu and other officials.