Irate Kotla traders protest against private buses skipping town route

Kotla town in Jawali subdivision witnessed a three-hour shutdown on Wednesday as traders, under the banner of Kotla Vyapar Mandal, staged a protest against private bus operators for bypassing the town and instead taking the route through the twin tunnels located about 1 km away.

The traders, joined by local residents, alleged that private buses were violating their approved route permits by avoiding entry into Kotla. They argued that this change had caused immense hardship to daily commuters, particularly schoolchildren, women and the elderly, who were forced to walk nearly 1.5 to 2 km from the tunnel area to reach the town.

Protesters pointed out that Kotla serves as a hub for shopping, medical facilities, government services, and religious visits to the revered Bagalamukhi temple. The sudden diversion of buses, they said, had disrupted access to these essential services, leaving commuters high and dry, especially during the humid and rainy season.

Former Kotla gram panchayat pradhan Yog Raj Mehra said the Pathankot-Mandi four-lane project was meant to improve convenience for the public, but the “high-handedness” of private bus operators had only created fresh difficulties for commuters, residents and traders alike.

Kotla Vyapar Mandal president Arvind Mahajan urged the state transport authorities to take action against the violation of route permits. He warned that if the authorities failed to address the issue, the agitation would be intensified in the coming days.