Pricey ride: Passengers enraged over increased transport fares
Transporters, on the other hand, rejected claim that fares had increased
RTA’s focal person Zubair Ahmad told The Express Tribune the department had not received any formal complaint over the increase in transport fares. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Passengers were enraged over the spike in public transport fares ahead of Eid.
Fares from Peshawar to nearby districts rose from Rs80 to Rs150 at various bus stands of the city. These included General Bus Stand, Kohat Bus Stand, and Charsadda Road Bus Stand.
While talking to The Express Tribune, passengers said Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Peshawar failed to implement the official fare list and transporters were charging according to their will.
Peshawar is home to hundreds of thousands of professionals, students, and others who travel to nearby districts every now and then.
This is peak season and many want to return to their hometowns for Eidul Fitr. As a result, they hoped for the implementation of standard fares from the government.
This is not the first time transporters charged exorbitant fares from passengers ahead of Eid. Many residents and migrants of Peshawar have sadly accepted this practice as part of their routine life.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Wahid, who works at a private firm in the city, said transporters were charging Rs250 from Peshawar to Timergara against the standard list fare of Rs200. Those going beyond Timergara had to fork up more than Rs300.
On the other hand, transporters said the increased fare charges were justified as they were providing air conditioned services in the bus. However, Wahid told The Express Tribune the ACs were not working in many of the vehicles, and even if they were, the driver would turn the system off after travelling a few kilometers.
All Pubic Transport Owners Association President Khan Zaman Afridi categorically rejected the claim the transporters had increased fares.
“No transporter shall be allowed to charge extra fares from the passengers.” He said many vehicles do not have permits, but their owners started offering rides and services at high fares.
Similarly, RTA’s focal person Zubair Ahmad told The Express Tribune the department had not received any formal complaint over the increase in transport fares. He said RTA teams were visiting all bus stands on a regular basis in order to keep a check on the lists.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2016.
Passengers were enraged over the spike in public transport fares ahead of Eid.
Fares from Peshawar to nearby districts rose from Rs80 to Rs150 at various bus stands of the city. These included General Bus Stand, Kohat Bus Stand, and Charsadda Road Bus Stand.
While talking to The Express Tribune, passengers said Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Peshawar failed to implement the official fare list and transporters were charging according to their will.
Peshawar is home to hundreds of thousands of professionals, students, and others who travel to nearby districts every now and then.
This is peak season and many want to return to their hometowns for Eidul Fitr. As a result, they hoped for the implementation of standard fares from the government.
This is not the first time transporters charged exorbitant fares from passengers ahead of Eid. Many residents and migrants of Peshawar have sadly accepted this practice as part of their routine life.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Wahid, who works at a private firm in the city, said transporters were charging Rs250 from Peshawar to Timergara against the standard list fare of Rs200. Those going beyond Timergara had to fork up more than Rs300.
On the other hand, transporters said the increased fare charges were justified as they were providing air conditioned services in the bus. However, Wahid told The Express Tribune the ACs were not working in many of the vehicles, and even if they were, the driver would turn the system off after travelling a few kilometers.
All Pubic Transport Owners Association President Khan Zaman Afridi categorically rejected the claim the transporters had increased fares.
“No transporter shall be allowed to charge extra fares from the passengers.” He said many vehicles do not have permits, but their owners started offering rides and services at high fares.
Similarly, RTA’s focal person Zubair Ahmad told The Express Tribune the department had not received any formal complaint over the increase in transport fares. He said RTA teams were visiting all bus stands on a regular basis in order to keep a check on the lists.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2016.