Inter-city transporters continue to fleece passengers leaving for their hometowns from the twin cities to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their loved ones and relatives.
Transporters have unilaterally increased fares ahead of Eid in violation of the official rate. Despite official announcements, overloading and overcharging have reached their climax.
The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and the local administration completely failed to implement official fares.
At different bus and wagon terminals, passengers indulged in arguments with transporters over extra fares and overcharging.
Families with three to four children said that the high fares were making holes in their pockets.
Around half of the population in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad leave for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.
The citizens use buses, wagons and trains to go to their hometowns. Owing to rush of passengers, inter-city transporters have increased fares with impunity.
Passengers Mehmood Khan, Ashar Ali, and Abdul Qayyum said that the ticket price was so expensive that they could not buy gifts for their families and loved ones.
They said that they were compelled to purchase tickets at excessive prices to spend Eid with their loved ones.
Rent-a-car service providers have also jacked up the fare and they have stopped further bookings due to an unusual rush.
Transporters have also brought worn-out buses on the roads putting the lives of passengers at risk to make money on the occasion of Eid.
The Regional Transport Authority could not be seen in the failed to enforce official fares.
All rent-a-car showrooms in and around Murree Road have reserved vehicles for Eid. When there is a high demand for cars, their cost automatically goes up.
Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) warned transporters against overcharging.
Read Transporters continue to fleece people going home for Eid
According to the RTA secretary, the transporters have a habit of fleecing the homebound citizens by charging exorbitant rates. He said that stern action would be taken against transporters found involved in overcharging and overloading passengers.
He said that the staff concerned had been directed to check overcharging and overloading at bus terminals.
The checking was being carried out randomly at different places, he said adding strict action will be taken on the spot and excess fares would be returned to the passengers.
He said that special squads have also been formed and deployed at bus and wagon stands to control overcharging and overloading.
He said a special control room has also been set up at the RTA office to monitor teams checking fares of buses and wagons at bus stands. The transporters and the management of the bus terminals had also been instructed to ensure implementation of the orders in letter and spirit, he said.
Transporters had also been asked not to create an artificial shortage of buses and bring all their vehicles on roads otherwise their licences would be cancelled.
He said that passengers should inform the officials concerned and strict action would be taken against transporters.
Meanwhile, all bus and wagon terminals including the railway station on Saturday remained jam-packed with passengers who were leaving for their native towns to celebrate Eid with their families. The passengers were seen running from one bus stand to the other in search of tickets. A huge rush of passengers could be seen at all bus terminals and at Rawalpindi Railway Station on Saturday.
The official Eid holidays will begin on Monday (May 2) but most non-locals left for their hometowns on Saturday while the remaining would likely go till ‘Chand Raat’.
Additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2022.
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