Transportation woes: Commuters decry overcharging

Overloading continues to cause number of accidents

JHELUM: The public transportation system from Jhelum to other cities and districts is in an appalling state. Buses, wagons and Hiace vans are overcrowded with passengers while drivers and bus conductors herd passengers like animals.

Passengers are also forced to sit on the roofs of buses while eve teasing and rowdy fights during the journey have become an everyday sight.

Travelling in Hiace and wagons has also become difficult as writings and stickers containing immoral phrases are also seen inside and outside the vehicles.

On the other hand, influential transporters have been operating freely with substandard cylinders in their vehicles, posing an imminent threat to the lives of the passengers.

Due to overloading, the number of buses and wagons meeting accidents has also increased and many precious lives have been lost and many have turned permanently disabled. Complaints of overcharging of fares have also become a regular feature in buses and wagons.

Passengers who are critical of overcharging are asked to leave the buses before even reaching their destinations. Women are also not spared from the rude treatment of the bus staff.

On the other hand, the administration does not ask the bus operators to abide by the fares fixed by Punjab Road Transport Authority while traffic police officials are often seen gossiping around hotels and other parts hunting for their prey.

In order to complete their targets, traffic police officers start up the process of issuing challans, thereby fooling the government and the local administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2018.