STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Pledging to stop the use of cigarette and tobacco products in public transport vehicles, transport associations across Jammu have started a vigorous campaign to end tobacco use in all public vehicles.
“We have around 4,000 members and all our members will ensure that their vehicles are declared as ‘no smoking zones’ and the relevant signages disallowing passengers to smoke are installed in the vehicles,” Vijay Singh, President All Mishriwala Group, said.
“We have given ten days’ time to all the members to get ‘no smoking signages’ installed in their vehicles. We have already printed 4,000 plus stickers and these are being forwarded to all the members for putting them to use in their vehicles,” Anil Chopra, Chairman, Mini Bus Operators Union, Jammu said.
The Jammu-Banihal-Basholi bus service and the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch bus service too have installed ‘no smoking’ signages in their vehicles and are disallowing passengers from smoking in the vehicles during travel.
Interesting, the auto operators in the region too have decided to make their vehicles as ‘no smoking’ zones by not allowing passengers to smoke during travel.
“We have already made it a point with the Regional Transport Office that no auto rickshaw should be passed during the annual inspection if it does not have a ‘no smoking’ signage installed in the vehicle,” Shanti Singh, President Jammu Auto Operators Association, said.
Pertinently, the government has already asked the officials of the State Transport Department to take necessary steps for making public places like bus stands, commercial vehicles and all public conveyances including transport offices as ‘No Smoking Areas and Zones’.
