Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar Nov 13: The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in passenger vehicles have gone for a toss here with passengers alleging that no guidelines including maintenance of social distancing are being followed, thus risking the lives of the passengers.
The passengers alleged that no SOP is being followed in the passenger vehicles, adding that the vehicles remained jam-packed with the passengers, which is an open violation of the norms set by the government in which it was directed to carry passengers of below capacity.
Yasir Ahmad, a local passenger from Pulwama said that although the passenger vehicles remain jam-packed, the drivers continue to fleece the passengers by charging exorbitant fare to them, saying that no action is being taken against the norm violators, thus leaving the passengers to lurch at large.
He said that the government should either revoke the fare hike order or should ensure the SOPs are followed in letter and spirit.
Pertinently, transporters were allowed to charge 30 per cent extra fare by carrying passengers of below capacity in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
