Kashmir Transporters Protest Bus Expansion

Commuters in the Kashmir Valley faced significant disruption as private buses and inter-district cabs went off roads due to a strike called by the All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association. The protest is against the India — Jammu and Kashmir government's proposal to expand Smart City bus services to other districts, a move that transporters fear will threaten their livelihoods. The Smart City bus service, an eco-friendly public transport system, was launched in India — Jammu and Kashmir in November 2023, initially with 100 electric buses for Srinagar and Jammu cities. Officials later proposed expanding the service to improve connectivity, leading to the current protests. Shabir Ahmad Matta, president of the transporters' association, urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to halt the expansion.