Transporters hike fares unilaterally in Rawalpindi
Govt says approval for revised fares summary is awaited
Govt says approval for revised fares summary is awaited. PHOTO: FILE
RAWALPINDI:
With the government raising the prices for essential fuels, transporters in Rawalpindi have decided to unilaterally hike fares despite the fact that the district administration has not notified any increase.
As a result, fights were reported to have erupted between transporters and travellers. Late last month, the government had decided to hike the price of petrol by Rs5. But the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) did not notify an increase in fares for travelling between the twin cities or to other cities.
Transporters, though, resorted to hiking fares on longer routes unilaterally.
A few months ago, when the petroleum products saw a hike of Rs10, the fare for travelling from one stop to another was set by the RTA at Rs15, while fares for further stops would increase by Re1 to Rs2.
Gohar, who usually travels between the twin cities, said that transporters are charging more than the notified fares.
As an example, he said that the fare from Saddar to Faizabad was supposed to be approximately Rs17. But transporters operating wagons and hi-ace were charging between Rs20 to Rs22.
Similarly, Faizan said that if you take a van from Saddar or Murree road, the fare charged for travel to Zero Point is Rs30.
He added that when transporters are asked to show the official rate list, the transporters make excuses of the hike in prices of petroleum products.
Transporters appeal to CM to address their problems
When RTA officers were asked about the issue, an official said that any decision to hike fares has to be made at the province level — which is usually done based on a decision taken in Lahore.
He said that they were still waiting on that decision to be made before issuing a revised rate list. The RTA official further added that whenever they received complaints of exorbitant fare being charged in Rawalpindi, they took action against the transport involved.
However, he conceded that they have yet to undertake any such action in the current month. Meanwhile, United Transport Federation chief Raja Riaz said that government is bound to raise the fares when the rates of petroleum products rise increased by Rs5 or more.
Riaz said that while they have not directed members of their federation to raise fares and were waiting for a few some days for the official notification based on assurances provided by the government, he said that they may chart on a future strategy— ostensibly of raising fares unilaterally — should the government fail to act. With more than 10-days passing since the federal government raised fares, the provincial government said that they were stuck in bureaucratic processes.
Punjab Transport secretary told Daily Express that they have sent for approval a summary to raise transport fares in the province. As soon as the summary is approved, the revised fares will be notified.Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2018.
With the government raising the prices for essential fuels, transporters in Rawalpindi have decided to unilaterally hike fares despite the fact that the district administration has not notified any increase.
As a result, fights were reported to have erupted between transporters and travellers. Late last month, the government had decided to hike the price of petrol by Rs5. But the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) did not notify an increase in fares for travelling between the twin cities or to other cities.
Transporters, though, resorted to hiking fares on longer routes unilaterally.
A few months ago, when the petroleum products saw a hike of Rs10, the fare for travelling from one stop to another was set by the RTA at Rs15, while fares for further stops would increase by Re1 to Rs2.
Gohar, who usually travels between the twin cities, said that transporters are charging more than the notified fares.
As an example, he said that the fare from Saddar to Faizabad was supposed to be approximately Rs17. But transporters operating wagons and hi-ace were charging between Rs20 to Rs22.
Similarly, Faizan said that if you take a van from Saddar or Murree road, the fare charged for travel to Zero Point is Rs30.
He added that when transporters are asked to show the official rate list, the transporters make excuses of the hike in prices of petroleum products.
Transporters appeal to CM to address their problems
When RTA officers were asked about the issue, an official said that any decision to hike fares has to be made at the province level — which is usually done based on a decision taken in Lahore.
He said that they were still waiting on that decision to be made before issuing a revised rate list. The RTA official further added that whenever they received complaints of exorbitant fare being charged in Rawalpindi, they took action against the transport involved.
However, he conceded that they have yet to undertake any such action in the current month. Meanwhile, United Transport Federation chief Raja Riaz said that government is bound to raise the fares when the rates of petroleum products rise increased by Rs5 or more.
Riaz said that while they have not directed members of their federation to raise fares and were waiting for a few some days for the official notification based on assurances provided by the government, he said that they may chart on a future strategy— ostensibly of raising fares unilaterally — should the government fail to act. With more than 10-days passing since the federal government raised fares, the provincial government said that they were stuck in bureaucratic processes.
Punjab Transport secretary told Daily Express that they have sent for approval a summary to raise transport fares in the province. As soon as the summary is approved, the revised fares will be notified.Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2018.