No let-up in overcharging by transporters

People leaving twin cities for hometowns struggle to find cheap tickets

RAWALPINDI:

Inter-city transporters continue to fleece passengers leaving in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for their hometowns to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their loved ones and relatives.

All bus and wagon terminals including railway stations on Sunday remained jam packed with passengers who were leaving for their native towns to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families. The passengers were seen running from one bus stand to the other in search of tickets, while the transporters taking full advantage of the situation were demanding enhanced fares from them.

A huge rush of passengers could be witnessed at all bus terminals and also at the Rawalpindi railway station here on Sunday. On the other hand, long route transporters were brazenly looting helpless passengers by charging enhanced fares apart from charges of luggage. The transporters at Pirwadhai, Faizabad, Rawat, Humrahi and Soan bus/wagon terminals were demanding enhanced fares from the passengers.

The official Eid holidays will begin on Monday (May 2) but most of the non-locals left for their hometowns on Saturday and Sunday, while the remaining would likely go till ‘Chand Raat’.

Similarly, a large number of passengers could be witnessed at the Rawalpindi railway station waiting for trains. A majority of passengers have already booked their seats but others are facing difficulties in hunt of seats.

Meanwhile, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) warned the transporters against overcharging. It said that stern action was being taken against transporters found overcharging and overloading passengers. The staff had been directed to check overcharging and overloading of passengers in buses and vans especially before Eidul Fitr.

The RTA said that checking was being carried out randomly at different places, he said adding, strict action was being taken on the spot and excess fares were being returned to the passengers. Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Noor ul Amin Mengal had directed the RTA Rawalpindi to control fares of vehicles and take strict action against the violators.

According to RTA secretary, they have cancelled Eid holidays of their checking staff. “We are trying to control the phenomenon of overcharging ahead of Eid,” he added. He advised the passengers to note numbers of buses and wagons which are overcharging.

“Passengers should inform us and we will take strict action against transporters,” he claimed. According to a spokesman, RTA on the directives of the commissioner had finalized arrangements to conduct raids for checking fares of the public transport.

A special control room had also been set up at RTA office to monitor teams checking fares of buses and wagons in the bus stands.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2022.