Matador operators continue to fleece commuters in Jammu
Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 3
Passenger fares fixed by the Transport Department have no relevance for private matador operators plying their vehicles on the Jammu railway station-Panjtirthi route in the winter capital. They continue to fleece “gullible” pilgrims and tourists coming from different parts of the country by charging exorbitant fares.
“Knowing that autorickshaw drivers in the city are already charging high fares from visiting pilgrims, we prefer matadors to reach the famous Raghunath temple at Gummat in the heart of the city,” said Venkata Murti, a visitor from Odisha.
“But even a matador ride was not cheap at all. From the matador stop at the railway station to Shalamar, the conductor charged Rs 120 for four persons. After paying obeisance at the temple, we talked to a local about the fare. We came to know that the fare per person ranged between Rs 5 and Rs 12,” he said.
Another pilgrim, Ramesh Malhotra from Uttarakhand, said, “There is no control of the department over the excessive charging from pilgrims and tourists by private matador operators. It seems that the authorities are least bothered about the important issue. It gives a wrong signal about working of the administration.”
Meanwhile, Ashwani Khajuria, Regional Transport Officer, Jammu, told The Tribune that the matter of excessive charging by matadors plying on the Jammu railway station-Panjtirthi route would be look into.
“We have fixed passenger fares for private matadors plying on different routes in the city. If there is any violation, the department will take action against the erring matador operators charging exorbitant fares,” the officer said.
