Srinagar, Dec 24:
The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially approved an 18 percent hike in public transport fares across the Union Territory. The new rates are set to take effect from January 1, 2026, marking the first fare revision in nearly five years.
The approval came following a high-level meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, Santosh D. Vaidhya. The session saw participation from top transport officials and planners to evaluate the economic viability of the current fare structure. The Key Attendees were: Avny Lavasa (Secretary Transport), Anju Gupta (Acting Transport Commissioner J&K), Abdul Rashid War (Managing Director JKRTC) and Karan Singh Wazir (Chairman, All J&K Transport Welfare Association).
The All J&K Transport Welfare Association had been lobbying for a revision, citing extreme financial strain. During the deliberations, the association presented several factors that made the 18% increase a necessity: A sustained rise in diesel and petrol costs since the last revision, Significant increases in spare parts, maintenance, and insurance premiums, Higher government taxes and fees impacting the net income of operators and Transporters pointed out that fares had remained stagnant for nearly half a decade despite inflation.
While the hike provides relief to struggling transport operators, it is expected to impact daily commuters, students, and low-income travelers who rely on buses and matadors.
The Transport Department is expected to issue a formal notification within the coming days. This document will detail the exact “stage-wise” fare charts for minibuses, buses, and taxis to prevent overcharging by operators.
“After detailed deliberations, the administration agreed to the demand to ensure the transport sector remains functional and sustainable,” an official spokesperson stated.
If your daily commute currently costs ₹20, expect to pay approximately ₹23 to ₹24 starting next week.
