People heading home for Eid forced to pay extra

Transporters say buses are coming empty on return journey

RAWALPINDI: With the advent of Eidul-Fitr, transporters of twin cities have started fleecing people heading back home for the auspicious occasion.

Federal capital and garrison town become almost deserted on Eid when majority of workers head to hometowns and native areas to spend the festive occasion with their families.

According to a survey conducted by The Express Tribune, bus terminals at Pirwadhai, Faizabad, Tarnol, near Soan, almost all transporters conceded that they increase the fares to meet expenses of their vehicles.

Transport services from the Garrison city of Rawalpindi to different parts of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have increased fares ahead of Eid. Companies were charging fares at will while passengers were desperate to get a glimpse of official fare list which seemed almost invisible at all bus terminals.

Though increase in fuel prices is a powerful excuse to increase fares, transporters have a habit to charge extra on Eids when droves of people go to their hometowns and then return to work. “Our buses come empty on the return route,” a manger of a transport company said.

“We incur cost of fuel, because everyone is heading to villages and no one is coming to towns. And the same is the case after holidays when the whole rush will be towards cities and no one will be going to villages,” he said trying to explain the annual migration of workers during holidays.

Transporters said the only solution to bear the loss of buses coming empty inbound route is to increase the fare on upbound route.

 

During the survey, The Express Tribune discovered that bus terminals were charging Rs1.100 for Dera Ismail Khan, which was Rs200 more than the official rate. Similarly, transporters were demanding Rs2,000 for Sadiqabad which was Rs500 more than official rates.



Fares have been increased by Rs500 for Dera Murad Jamali Rs2,300, Nakana Sahab Rs1,000, Karachi Rs4,500 and Sargodha Rs1,000.

The transporters said that more vehicles have been added to the fleet while additional seats have also been installed owing to extra rush.

It was observed that all bus and wagon terminals were packed with passengers as people were leaving for their native villages to celebrate Eid. Most of the people were travelling through buses and wagons because of heavy booking on trains. Passengers were seen wandering from terminal to terminal to find seats in buses and wagons.

Road transport: Migrant workers struggle to return home for Eid

Non-availability of tickets, overcharging and over-crowding have created many a problems for commuters traveling to their hometowns.

Three major bus terminals of twin cities including Faizabad, Pirwadhai and Karachi Company were thronged with the migrant workers leaving the city to celebrate the festivities of Eid with their loved ones at native places. But, their zeal to reach home started suffering in the hands of the transporters when they faced the worse situation of unavailability of vehicles and waited for hours to board, on the basis of “first come first served” condition.

People from all across the country and different parts of life were residing in the federal capital for the purpose of work and business. Most of them travel to their home-towns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.

Thousands of people enjoying the facility of their own transport manage easily to move from the city. But, majority of people from working class, laborers and students have to depend on the public transport, and every time they have to suffer from the same problems

Subsequently, the officials from Rawalpindi Transport Authority (RTA) said they would not allow transporters to charge excess fare from passengers.

The authority hoisted banners inscribed with complaint numbers at all bus terminals. They appealed to the public to report about fleecing practices to RTA.

The Rawalpindi Transport Authority (RTA) has formed two special squads to curb profiteering by transporters ahead of Eid.

The three-member squad would work under motor vehicle examiner, Shaukat Abbasi and would be deployed at in Pir Wadhai bus stand and Pirwadhai Road.

A notification in this regard has also been issued by secretary RTA.

The other squad under supervision of TSI Malik Abrar Hussain would be deployed on Peshawar road, Sawan bus stand and GT road.

A special control room has also been formed in RTA’s office which would work round the clock to address public complaints against the transporters that can be made on toll free number 051-927001.

The squads would take action against the transporters overcharging from passengers.

The officials of RTA said that transporters found overcharging, violating route, overloading etc would be fined heavily while their vehicles could be impounded as well.

Transport mafia continues to rip off citizens

Don’t take anything from anyone

During Eid festivities, people going to villages and hometowns tend to carry lots of cash with them for gifts for near and dear ones and family expenses, which makes them an ideal target of conmen and pickpockets.

National Highway and Motorways Police (NH&MP) have warned homeward bound passengers against trusting any stranger. “People posing as families, men women and children, will try to befriend you, don’t trust them they are swindlers who loot innocent folk traveling with cash and valuables,” said a warning from NH&MP. These people befriend a lonely traveller offer him biscuits or water or any edible laced with intoxicant to knock out him out then empty his pockets.

Rawalpindi Traffic Police said such cheats hang around bus stands during Eid rush where they select and target their victims.

Police have warned not to take anything from anyone, be it an elderly woman, man young or child. Police said unsuspecting travellers end up being victim of swindlers or worst happily carry bags containing arms and drugs only to be caught for the crimes they did not commit. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2019.