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Jammu, Jun 10 (UNI) Shaken by the transporters' strike, the Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to cut down sales tax on fuel and increase fare structure for public transport, an official source today said.

''The government looking on reduction in sales tax on fuel and restructuring public fares to pacify the agitating transport operators in the state,'' a senior official told UNI.

However, the final decision in this regard could be taken only after June 16 meeting of state Finance Ministers at New Delhi, the source asserted.

Confirming the report, Transport Minister Mohammad Yaseen Malik informed that the government was taking all possible steps to meet the situation.

He said, ''The committee constituted by the government in this regard will hold talks with the representatives of transporters tomorrow and we are hopeful of positive outcome.'' About 75,000 private transporter vehicles came to a grinding halt in the entire state yesterday to protest against government's apathetic attitude towards their demand of fare hike, despite recent increase in petroleum products.

Thousands of Vaishno Devi pilgrims, other tourists and working people were stranded at various places between Jammu and Srinagar, sources said.

In consequence to the increased demand of food and shelter, the hoteliers and 'dhaba' owners have raised their prices. ''The small vehicles are charging Vaishnodevi pilgrims three times more fare to shift them to railway station,'' a source at Katra told UNI.

Jammu Tawi Railway station and the general bus stand here were overcrowded with the stranded passengers, sources said.

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