Cabinet Approves 18% Fare Hike and Increased Allowances for Ministers, MLAs

The Omar Abdullah Cabinet has recently approved a series of significant decisions, including a 18% increase in transport fares and revised allowances for Ministers, MLAs, and other officials. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 136 faculty posts in the Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of Jammu and Srinagar, but the distribution has raised eyebrows among the people in Jammu.

No official statement was released after the Cabinet meeting, which lasted about an hour. However, the Office of the Chief Minister wrote on X: “Chief Minister today chaired a Cabinet meeting in Jammu during which key decisions were taken to strengthen governance and accelerate development across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on improving administrative efficiency and public service delivery.” All Cabinet decisions are subject to approval by the Lieutenant Governor.

Sources revealed that the Cabinet has cleared the proposal to increase fares of commercial passenger vehicles by 18%, which will likely cause additional financial burden on the public. The transporters had been demanding a 35-40% increase, but the government settled for 18%. The fare for e-rickshaws has been fixed at Rs 15 per km, and for e-autos, it is Rs 25 for the first km and Rs 20 for subsequent kms. This decision is expected to provide some relief to the public, as e-rickshaws and e-autos have been charging arbitrary rates.

The Cabinet has also approved the creation of 136 posts of Professors and Associate Professors in the GMCs of Jammu and Srinagar. Out of these, 27 are Professor posts, with 10 in GMC Jammu and 17 in GMC Srinagar. There are also 109 Associate Professor posts, with 36 in GMC Jammu and 73 in GMC Srinagar. This uneven distribution has created resentment among the people of Jammu, particularly among medical students, as the number of posts in GMC Jammu is nearly 50% less than in GMC Srinagar. However, the BJP, which won 29 out of 43 seats in the Jammu region, has maintained silence on the issue.

Additionally, the Cabinet has approved revisions to TA/DA, medical, and other allowances admissible to MLAs, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Presiding Officers, and Ministers. Amendments have been made to various rules, including the TA Rules, Ministers and Ministers of State (Motor Car Advance and Allowances) Rules, and the Leader of Opposition in Legislature (Allowances, Medical, and Other Facilities) Rules. These changes will lead to an increase in different allowances, such as the Medical Allowance of the LoP, daily allowance, Motor Car Advance and Allowances of Ministers, and advances for motor cars for Assembly Members. MLAs will also receive enhanced TA and medical facilities.

The Cabinet also approved the consent of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to the UT of Ladakh to extend the services of the Jammu and Kashmir Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (J&K Special Tribunal) as the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal for the UT of Ladakh. Real estate activity in the UT of Ladakh is low, and the UT has considered it appropriate to establish a separate RERA and a joint REAT with the UT of J&K. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has advised that Ladakh may continue with the interim arrangement for RERA and concurred with the proposal to establish a joint REAT with J&K.

The Cabinet also ordered the promotion of Abdul Majid Tak, Joint Director Fisheries, to the position of Director Fisheries, and released the Special Scale (Non-Functional) of JKAS in favor of JKAS officer, Rajesh Kumar Basotra.

These decisions reflect the government's efforts to address various administrative and public service issues, while also highlighting the ongoing concerns and regional disparities that need to be addressed for balanced development across the region.