J&K Govt Approves 18% Hike in Passenger Transport Fares, New Rates from January 1
Jammu, Dec 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved an 18 percent increase in passenger transport fares across the Union Territory, with the revised rates set to come into effect from January 1, 2026.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the Fare Revision Committee (FRC) chaired by Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu. The committee reviewed the long-pending demand of transporters seeking a revision in fares due to rising operational costs.
Officials said transporters’ associations had earlier demanded a 40 percent hike, citing increased expenses on vehicle maintenance, spare parts, fuel-related costs, taxes, and overall upkeep. The committee examined a detailed cost analysis report and held extensive discussions with all stakeholders before arriving at a final decision.
While acknowledging the financial pressure faced by the transport sector, the government said the committee also carefully assessed the impact on passengers, stressing that fare revision should not place an excessive burden on the common public.
After deliberations, the committee unanimously agreed on an 18 percent hike, describing it as a balanced and reasonable increase that addresses the concerns of transporters while protecting commuter interests.
Officials said the revised fare structure will apply to all categories of passenger vehicles operating across Jammu and Kashmir and will be implemented uniformly from the beginning of the new year.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Secretary Transport Avny Lavasa, Acting Transport Commissioner Anju Gupta, Managing Director JKRTC Abdul Rashid War, representatives from the Northern Command, Regional Transport Officers of Kashmir and Jammu, officers from the General Administration Department, and representatives of various transporters’ unions.
The government said the decision aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of public transport services in the Union Territory while maintaining affordability for daily commuters.
