Overcharging: Crackdown on public vehicles on cards

PTA likely to launch a crackdown on transporters charging exorbitant fares.

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Transport Authority (PTA), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), is likely to launch a crackdown on transporters charging exorbitant fares on different routes of the province.

The authority’s secretary, Sariruddin Khan said that PTA is all set to launch a crackdown against transporters who are charging higher fares than those fixed by the government.

Vans plying on both intra- and inter-provincial routes are overcharging commuters compared to the official fares.

Charsadda route is the only route on which the passanger coaches are collecting the
exact fare.

Moreover, there area complaints against the transporters of overloading.

PTA announced slab-based fare rates for the commuters in proportion to the prices of petroleum products, which are not being follwoed by 80 per cent of transporters as they consume CNG.

The transporters of CNG-run vehicles adjust fares on the basis of diesel prices.

PTA has prepared a summary issuing separate fares for CNG-run vehicles. The PTA secretary told APP that the CNG-run vehicle owners have been directed to display fare list at bus stands.

He said that during the operation PTA officials will cross check fares. The matter of overcharging will also be discussed with transporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2011.