Commuters throng railway, bus stations after Eid holidays

Passengers ignore coronavirus SOPs prescribed by govt

LAHORE: Commuters thronged the railway stations and bus stands with their luggage to continue their routine life after celebrating Eid amongst friends and family.

Crowds of passengers were witnessed at different general bus stands and Lahore Railway Station, ignoring the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the provincial government.

Most passengers who belonged to the far-flung areas reached Lahore after spending the six holidays to resume their routine life. A huge number of passengers also left Lahore for other districts to resume their work.

Some passengers also complained of poor services provided to them by the transport services.

However, some commuters were seen lamenting the violations of the government’s SOPs, they also complained of exorbitant fares.

Reportedly, some people have started coming back to the city and it has increased the number of passengers at the bus and train stations, hence social distancing has not been maintained.

The transporters overcharged the passengers for their luggage and most buses returning to the city were packed with passengers.

The passengers faced immense difficulties as local buses were also diverted to long routes before Eid holidays.

Railway Minister Shaikh Rasheed while speaking to the media, referred to the precautionary measures taken against the contagious coronavirus.

“The trains had already been disinfected and the staff members had been briefed regarding the SOPs,” said the minister.

A passenger named Muhammad Salamat, while talking to The Express Tribune, said he came to Lahore from Rawalpindi in an overcrowded train. “The railway authorities claimed that they have only issued tickets to 60% passengers,” he said. “This is not true,” he added.

On the other hand, Public Relations Director Quratul Ain Fatima stated that no SOPs were violated.

“Rather than 100% we issued 60% tickets to the passengers of the train while following the SOPs of social distancing,” she said.

“Overcrowding is not possible in the train in the prevailing situation,” she added.

She maintained that clear instructions have been given to the authorities concerned to strictly implement the government’s SOPs.

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