COVID-19 kills intercity transportation

Despite the ban on travel, passengers and terminal staff claim the government has not taken appropriate measures

PESHAWAR: Life, in general, has become the prime victim of the COVID-19 outbreak all over the world.

In a stark indication of how the coronavirus pandemic has brought urban life to a standstill, ridership plunged significantly on the major intercity transportation system in Peshawar, days before it was completely banned by the government.

The bustling bus terminal in the provincial capital, which is commonly known to commuters as the Lahore Bus Station, is now deserted.

“People were not travelling due to the fear,” said one commuter. Usually busy, the major bus terminal is rarely so quiet and lifeless. It allows thousands of commuters to shuttle from Peshawar to other cities across the country.

“This is a very important terminal. It is the most commonly used channel that connects the commuters from Peshawar with other cities in the country,” said Ali Saeed Bacha, the caretaker of the terminal.

The government, Bacha said, did not provide the administration of the terminal with any screening equipment while it was open. “We needed thermo-guns and hand sanitizers for the passengers,” said Bacha.

With coronavirus spreading across the country, mostly through commuters and travellers, Bacha cautioned: “The government should make long term arrangements to provide screening at the terminal.”

Talking about the dwindling number of commuters before the complete shut down of the terminal, a driver at the terminal pointed out that passengers chose not to travel due to the fear of coronavirus, which so far has 80 confirmed cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“Exposure for drivers and conductors to all sorts of people from all over the country was also very high,” claimed Abdul Samad, a local driver. With many cities now under lockdown, transit systems have taken the hit

While the staff at the terminal are concerned about the general wellbeing of passengers in the future, commuters are irked over the limited transportation options. “I’m stranded and can not travel back to Karachi due to limited services,” said one passenger, who was anxious to return to the southern port city.

Days before the provincial government in K-P imposed strict travel restrictions, ridership had already tumbled by 70%, according to one estimate.

Commenting on the issue, a provincial government official familiar with the matter said, the government has imposed a complete ban to minimize the spread of the virus. “People must exercise appropriate caution in public spaces,” he official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2020.