JK Students to Get Unlimited 50% Discount on All JKRTC Buses: RTI Reply Confirms”: SRINAGAR: A recent Right to Information (RTI) reply has dispelled widespread confusion over the student half-fare concession on Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) and Smart City buses across the Union Territory.
Boat capsize: Body of missing youth recovered from Dal Lake.
Social activist Shahid Shafi from Chakoora, Pulwama, had sought clarity following claims by some drivers and district General Managers that only five students per bus were eligible for the concession.
However, the RTI response makes it clear that no such limit exists. “The only requirement is a valid school or college identity card; no additional paperwork or permissions are necessary,” it states.Contrary to popular belief, there is no provision for reserved or fixed seats for students. The concession applies to any seat on the bus, provided the student presents a valid ID card, the response added.
Since the scheme’s introduction in June 2017, JKRTC has regularly issued circulars instructing staff to honour the student half-fare policy without restrictions.
The corporation also clarified that students who are denied the concession can lodge complaints directly with the General Manager (Operations), JKRTC, located at M.A. Road, Srinagar.
Interestingly, no official complaints have been recorded over the last three years, suggesting either a lack of awareness or reluctance to report violations.
The JKRTC reaffirmed that every student carrying a valid ID card is entitled to the benefit, irrespective of the number of student passengers on board. Students denied the concession or charged full fare are advised to note the bus route, date, and time and file a formal complaint with the relevant authority.
The RTI reply also outlined other concession categories, including differently-abled persons, war widows, and HIV/AIDS patients. Children under three years are exempt from fares, while those aged three to twelve are charged half. Additionally, 50 per cent of seats in all state-registered stage carriage vehicles are reserved for women and persons with disabilities, though these may be used by others if vacant. No fare is charged for mobility aids like wheelchairs or tricycles. (KNO)