Government reprimanding cab tourist operators for overcharging tourists and forcing them to switch vehicles in mid way for reaching tourist destinations is undoubtedly a major respite to tourists but curbs on cab drivers for overcharging even local travellers demands immediate attention and intervention of Kashmir’s divisional administration. Taking care of travelling conveniences of the tourists would surely smoothen tourist operations in Kashmir valley but leaving travelling conveniences of local travellers who are the service providers for all tourist activities unresolved does not augur well for smooth delivery of tourist services in Jammu & Kashmir. Overcharging by cab drivers is an offence they commit not just today but this offence continued for years together has been fortunately noticed this year by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir. A direction from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to the concerned authorities to book cab drivers for overcharging tourists and forcing them to switch vehicles in mid way won’t bring as big a respite to tourists as would the enforcement of a similar stringent action against overcharging of local travellers by the cab drivers as local travellers are for one or other reason service providers for tourists almost at every place on the roads and highways leading to tourist destinations. Overcharging if not noticed for years together but noticed now can’t be curbed fully if actions against the cab drivers are taken only in case of tourists but not local travellers who are directly or indirectly connected with the delivery of tourist services across Kashmir.
“Divisional Commissioner Kashmir holding a review meeting and directing the authorities to curb the overcharging of tourists is just a beginning and now the onus of curbing overcharging of both the tourists and as well as the local travellers lies on the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley districts. In fact monthly reports on complaints of overcharging against the cab drivers if sought by Divisional Commissioner from the Deputy Commissioners of Valley districts would bring a major respite not only to tourists but also to the local travellers across Kashmir.”
With the commencement of the summer tourist season in Kashmir a more strict vigil over the working of the cab passenger services would hopefully smoothen the cab services not only at the tourist places but across Kashmir. For the convenience of both the tourists and as well as the local travellers the rates already fixed for cab services need to be given wide publicity both in local news papers and as well as national news channels . Divisional Commissioner Kashmir holding a review meeting and directing the authorities to curb the overcharging of tourists is just a beginning and now the onus of curbing overcharging of both the tourists and as well as the local travellers lies on the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley districts. In fact monthly reports on complaints of overcharging against the cab drivers if sought by Divisional Commissioner from the Deputy Commissioners of Valley districts would bring a major respite not only to tourists but also to the local travellers across Kashmir.
