Passengers stranded as transporters go off roads

ABBOTTABAD:

On the second day of the Eidul Fitr, transporters disappeared from bus terminals all over Hazara division while stranded passengers were wandered in search of transport.

A few of the transporters also charged fares at their own will and the people had no choice to reach their destinations except to pay the increased fares.

Commuter Amjad Ali said that he and his family were waiting for the bus at Abbottabad Lorry Adda for the last three hours, despite the double fares, public transport was unavailable.

He said that profiteers also jumped in to get their share of the situation. Old buses and other vehicles that not fit for long routes were being used, he said.

Another local passenger, Rashid Mahmood, said that local transporters were also charging an extra fare as “Eidi” while neither the regional transport authority nor traffic police were taking any action to stop increased fares.

He further said that local transporters were charging Rs100 and Rs150 from Abbottabad to Manshera and the same was the situation on other routes. Main bus terminals in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur and other bus terminals in the region were full of stranded passengers who waiting for the public transport.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2022.