The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday ruled out any proposal under consideration to grant a 50 per cent fare concession specifically in Smart Bus services, saying the existing concessions for students are already in place under notified rules.
Replying to an unstarred question (A.Q No. 1523) tabled by MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad, the Transport Department, said that as per Government Notification S.O.P-MVD of 2017 dated June 22, 2017, all school and college students in Jammu and Kashmir are entitled to 50 percent concession in bus fare while travelling in buses operated by JKRTC, subject to valid student identification.
The government further said that no proposal is currently under consideration to provide a dedicated Smart Bus service from Lal Chowk to University of Kashmir exclusively for female students.
It, however, informed that Srinagar Smart City Limited is operating a limited fleet of Smart Buses, with six buses currently plying on the Jehangir Chowk–Hazratbal route via Khanyar, and two buses operating between Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and Women’s College, Batapora via Dargah Hazratbal, catering to the commuting needs of female students.
The government further said that one JKRTC e-bus is operating on the Lal Chowk–Gulab Bagh route via Dargah Hazratbal, which also serves students of the University of Kashmir.
The Transport Department said that JKRTC is not in a position to operate a dedicated bus service exclusively for female students on the said route due to limited fleet strength.
