The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially approved an 18% increase in public transport fares, bringing significant relief to transport operators across the Union Territory. The decision was taken after a high-level meeting held on Monday evening, marking the first fare revision in nearly five years. The revised fares will come into effect from January 1, 2026, according to officials present at the meeting.

High-Level Meeting Leads to Key Decision

The crucial meeting was chaired by Santosh D. Vaidhya, Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department. Several senior officials from key departments participated in the deliberations, highlighting the seriousness of the issue. These included Avny Lavasa, Secretary Transport; Anju Gupta, Acting Transport Commissioner, J&K; Abdul Rashid War, Managing Director of J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC); Rohit Sharma, Additional Secretary, General Administration Department; Vikas Anand, Joint Transport Commissioner; and Jasmeet Singh, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Jammu. Officials from the Planning and Development Department were also present, while the RTO Kashmir joined the meeting through virtual mode.

Transporters Raise Long-Pending Concerns

Representatives of the All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (AJKTWA) actively participated in the meeting and strongly presented their long-standing demands. The association was led by its Chairman Karan Singh Wazir, along with other office bearers including Vijay Singh Chib, Mohd Yousuf, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Mohd Latief, Ghulam Rasool, Sanjeev Choudhary, Vijay Dogra, and several others.

During the discussion, the association highlighted that public transport fares in Jammu and Kashmir had not been revised for nearly five years. They emphasized that during this period, transporters had been severely affected by rising operational costs. Sharp increases in fuel prices, higher road taxes, increased insurance premiums, and overall inflation had pushed many transport operators into financial distress.

Financial Stress on Public Transport Sector

Transporters argued that maintaining buses, taxis, and other public transport vehicles had become increasingly expensive. Spare parts, maintenance services, and compliance-related costs had all risen sharply. Despite these challenges, fares had remained unchanged, making it difficult for operators to sustain their businesses. The association warned that without a fare revision, many operators could be forced to reduce services or exit the sector entirely, impacting public mobility, especially in rural and remote areas.

Government Responds After Detailed Deliberations

After extensive discussions and careful consideration of the issues raised, the Principal Secretary Finance acknowledged the genuine concerns of the transport sector. He stated that the government recognized the financial pressure on transporters and the need to balance public interest with sector sustainability.

Following these deliberations, the government approved an 18% hike in public transport fares across Jammu and Kashmir. Officials clarified that the increase aims to provide reasonable relief to transport operators while ensuring that public transport services continue smoothly and efficiently.

Implementation from January 1, 2026

The government confirmed that the revised fare structure would be implemented uniformly from January 1, 2026. Detailed notifications outlining the new fare charts for different categories of public transport are expected to be issued by the Transport Department in the coming months

The decision marks a significant policy move and reflects the administration’s effort to address long-pending issues through dialogue and consensus.