NGO takes transport authority to court

Petition submitted against the Regional Transport Authority for its alleged failure to check on traffic violations.

KARACHI:

A petition was submitted on Wednesday against the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for its alleged failure to check on traffic violations and for the unauthorised raise in intercity and intra-city bus fares.

A representative for the non-profit United Human Rights Commission (UHRC) asked the Sindh High Court to direct the RTA to check route permits regularly and to impound buses that are driven without proper documents. The government needs the money it would get from the payment of permits and other taxes, said the petitioner. It should also act against owners of vehicles who allow passengers to sit on the roofs, who use pressure horns and play music in the women’s section.

The petitioner said the transport authority and the provincial government should increase traffic fines. The court should direct the RTA to fix the transport fares according to the stops.

The petition cited the transport minister, transport secretary, Motorway Police incharge, Traffic DIG, the Karachi Transport Ittehad and the Sindh Air-conditioned Coaches Association as respondents.

The petitioner alleged that the intercity bus and coach owners raise bus fares without the RTA’s permission, which is against the law. The RTA is acting as a silent spectator, he added. Transport owners are also using jump seats to cater to the increasing number of passengers, which is also a grave violation of traffic rules.

The motorway police has failed to take notice of extra seats in these buses and should be told to check such violations, the petitioner asked. The petition will be heard on April 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th,  2011.