Transport rates see usual Eid hike in Punjab

People perturbed by sudden rise and lack of seats

MULTAN: The arrival of Eidul Fitr beckons the season when people, who have come from different parts of the country to earn a living, travel back to their hometowns to spend the holidays with their families. However, these are also the days during which transporters make extra money.

The bus stands located at railway station Dera Adda and General Bus Stand grow busier by the day as people, laden with luggage, await buses leaving for their destinations. At General Bus Stand’s main terminal for the intercity bus services, people are seen perturbed by the sudden hike in fares as well as the non-availability of seats.

Supervisors of different bus services, who would otherwise run after people to convince them to use their services, pay no attention to the passengers and only give seats to those who pay the inflated fares.

Several passengers faced difficulty in booking tickets for their native towns due to the constant rush. Small transport operators of minivans or APVs started demanding double the standard fare from passengers. In addition, several transport operators have started charging extra for luggage.

Kashif Baig, who works at a private firm in Multan, told Express News that he has been looking for a ticket for three hours and visited different bus terminals, but all in vain.

He complained that transporters are exploiting passengers by selling tickets at higher rates.

Another passenger, Tahir Khalil, said he successfully managed to get a ticket for his hometown at a 50% higher rate. “Most transporters are charging extra on the pretext for “Eidi” due to government’s negligence,” he said.

Saeed Anwar, a passenger going to Lahore, said, “Most ticket clerks and staff members of private transport operators have purchased several tickets under fictitious names and are now selling to commuters at inflated rates.” He asked transport authorities and management companies to take strict action against the people involved in this unethical and illegal practice.

Similarly, other passengers including Muhammad Nadeem, Raees Ahmed and Farhan Saeed, also alleged that transporters have started looting citizens by increasing the fares.

They alleged that they lodged complaints against overcharging to the superintendent of the General Bus Stand but instead of taking action against those involved he asked us to go back.

On the other hand, City traffic Police and team of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has fined 25 vehicles for overcharging and overloading. Special banners to curb one-wheeling are posted on main points of the city and five cases have been registered at various police stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2018.