Eid rush: Passengers protest overcharging by transporters

Several fined for fleecing passengers

MULTAN: Scores of people staged protest demonstration against transporters for charging inflated fares at General Bus Stand, Chowk Kumharanwala and Dera Adda in Multan on Sunday.

Protesters complained the transporters increased fares without any official announcement from Regional Transport Authority (RTA). They said the transporters were taking advantage of the huge rush of passengers on Eid and started overcharging people against the orders of the RTA.

Hanif, a passenger at General Bus Stand, said that transport vehicles, including wagons and coaches were not taking passengers of nearby areas. “We are facing difficulties in travelling from one place to another.”

Abdul Ghaffar, another protester, said, “Transporters have been charging 150% extra fare from each passenger. If a passenger dares to protest against the illegal increase of fares, the transporters ask him to exit the vehicle.”

Shahbaz Aslam said, “Due to the shortage of public transport vehicles, transporters were charging exorbitant fares and people have no other option but to pay the demanded fare as everybody wants to celebrate Eid with their family.”

A protester Nazir said, “Transporters were even charging extra fare for the small luggage and if anyone refuses to pay, they are asked to leave the bus.”

Meanwhile, the protesters pointed out that none of the transporters had displayed fare lists and had increased the fare by Rs50. However, when the drivers were questioned, they admitted that they increased the fare due to the rush of passengers. While taking action over the situation, Multan Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha directed RTA Secretary Kashif Dogar to impose fines on the vehicles who were overcharging passengers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2017.