Transporters double fares in Pindi

RTA Secretary says the authority has launched a crackdown and will fine violators

RAWALPINDI:

As people return home to spend Eidul Azha with their families, transporters in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have started minting money by hiking their fares.

A survey conducted by The Express Tribune showed that people were facing difficulties due to the unilateral increase in fares, overloading, and lack of facilities at the bus stations including the Faizabad Bus Terminal, Pirwadhai Bus Stand, and Sawan Bus Terminal. Passengers at the Faizabad Bus station said that on special occasions, people want to spend more time with their families, however, the bus owners are exploiting the public.

Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a grand operation against transporters who are overcharging the public.

Public transport reopens today in Rawalpindi

RTA Secretary Mehar Ghulam Abbas said that the authority has launched a crackdown and will fine violators besides impounding their vehicles.

He urged the commuters to cooperate with the related authorities and to file complaints if transporter charges extra or misbehave with them.

Special squads of RTA, he said, are checking various bus stands including Pirwadhai, Peshawar Road and Grand Trunk Road for overcharging. Abbas said that the excess fare will be returned to passengers.

To a question, he informed that a meeting was arranged where transporters were directed to display the rate lists prominently in the vehicles and at the stand.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2020.