Transport Commissioner’s year-round stay in Jammu draws sharp criticism

SRINAGAR — In a glaring case of administrative neglect, the Transport Department in Kashmir is operating without any senior-level authority on the ground, causing severe inconvenience to the public.

Reliable sources told the news agency KNT that the Transport Commissioner remains stationed in Jammu throughout the year, leaving the Valley without any top-level official presence, even during peak operational periods.

This bureaucratic vacuum has not only affected the daily functioning of the department but has also created a major access crisis for residents seeking redressal of transport-related grievances or clearance of pending files.

“There is no Commissioner or any equivalent authority available in Kashmir. The office here is practically headless, and people are being pushed from pillar to post for even minor approvals,” said a senior official within the department, wishing not to be named.

From permit delays, to grievances regarding public transport, the absence of senior decision-makers has led to unnecessary backlogs and delays. Commuters, transport operators, and ordinary citizens alike have been voicing concern over the inaccessibility of the department’s top brass.

“For everything, we are told to approach the Jammu office. But for those of us living in Kashmir, especially from remote districts, it is neither affordable nor practical,” said Farooq Ahmad, a commercial driver from Kupwara.

Sources further revealed that even during the annual Darbar Move’s discontinuation, the Transport Commissioner’s office failed to adapt to the changed system. Unlike other departments that ensured dual functioning or rotational presence of senior officials, the Transport Department has completely centralised its authority in Jammu, making the Kashmir wing effectively redundant.

“Except for clerical work and routine file pushing, there is no functioning leadership here,” said another insider. “People are suffering, but nobody is accountable.”

The Transport Commissioner is the head of the state’s Transport Department and is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Motor Vehicles Act and related rules. They coordinate and regulate transport services, including vehicle registration, licensing, and permits. The Commissioner also oversees revenue collection, road safety measures, and the overall administration of the transport system.

Meanwhile, civil society members and transport unions have urged the government to personally intervene and restore full-fledged administrative functioning of the department in the Valley.