Transporters flout SOPs, hike fares

Police personnel deployed at bus stands allegedly turn a blind eye

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: Public transporters in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have allegedly taken advantage of the government’s decision to reopen inter-district and inter-city transportation to fleece passengers who are eager to return to their hometowns to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their family, friends and community.

Apart from charging exorbitant fares, transporters have also decided to disregard all precautionary protocols and guidelines decided under the standard operating procedures (SOPs), The Express Tribune learnt during a survey of various bus terminals in the twin cities.

Sindh govt reply sought over inter-city public transport ban

The practice of overcharging, overloading and ignoring the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) SOPs was witnessed at all bus stands in Islamabad, including Faizabad, Karachi Company, Chungi bus terminal, Sector I-11, and Mandi Mor.

Police personnel deployed at the bus stands allegedly turned a blind eye as the protocols were disregarded openly. The traffic police also did not intervene even when people complained of being fleeced by the transporters.

Police officers contend that it was not their job to check if the official fares were being implemented or not.

Passengers sitting in an inter-city air-conditioned bus said that the transporters demanded inflated fares on the pretext that the vehicle will be half-empty because social distancing regulations issued by the district administration dictated that all adjacent seats will be left vacant.

However, when the time comes, they complained that the transporters allowed passengers more than the sanctioned capacity to board the buses and wagons.

"The transporters are trying to make the most from the compulsion of passengers who must go home for Eid," said a passenger who was travelling to Gujranwala.

Transporters split over new rules of business

As soon as intercity transport was restored, transporters started ignoring all government SOPs which they had promised to follow when they were pleading to lift the lockdown.

Moreover, while fuel rates have substantially come down and the transport authorities slashed fares, the transport companies decided to increase the fares instead.

Violations of social distancing were also rife. The bus crew allowed passengers to board at a distance from the terminal to avoid the closed-circuit cameras of the police.

Karachi's transporters take a different route

Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) Secretary Kamran Cheema, whose basic responsibility is to ensure the best transportation services to the people, has mysteriously disappeared. Despite repeated attempts by The Express Tribune to contact Cheema, he could not be reached.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2020.