Transporters warned against overcharging

Traffic wardens directed to take action against those fleecing the passengers

RAWALPINDI:

The City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi is taking strict action against the transporters overcharging the passengers, said City Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi Rai Mazhar Iqbal.

The traffic wardens had been directed to take action under the law against the transporters fleecing the passengers, he said, and warned the transporters against overcharging public transport fares from people going to hometowns to celebrate Eidul Azha with their families.

The traffic officers had been directed to check overcharging and overloading of passengers in buses and vans especially before Eidul Azha, he said. The checking was being carried out randomly at different places in seven tehsils of the district. Strict action was being taken on the spot and excess fares were being returned to the passengers, he added. The CTO said that the transporters had been directed to display the fare charts at prominent places at the bus and van stands. Special squads had been deployed to conduct raids to check overcharging and overloading to facilitate the commuters moving to their native towns to celebrate the festive occasion with their families, he added.

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He said that the DSPs, sector in-charges and wardens had been directed to perform their role effectively to check violation of the rules in public transport. A special cell had also been set up to receive public complaints and people could lodge their complaints against overcharging by transporters through helpline 1915 and 051-9272839, he added. He advised the citizens to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus while traveling on Eidul Azha.

He said that the CTP education wing is also conducting awareness campaigns for staff and drivers at bus stands in Rawalpindi to follow the coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He added that the bus drivers are responsible to ensure safety and protection of the passengers. Therefore, Iqbal said they should drive following the instructions issued by the traffic police and implementing SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2021.