Transporters refuse to reduce fares

RTA sends summary for 10% reduction

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has failed to reduce fares charged by transporters for inter-city and intra-city routes despite the reduction in the per litre price of petrol by Rs12 and of diesel by Rs30.

Last week, RTA Secretary Arshad Ali spokes to representatives of transporters’ organizations and unions to reduce the fares. The fares were to be reduced by 10 per cent, but transporters have rejected the reduction.

A minimum stop-to-stop fare of Rs30 is being charged continuously. A fare of Rs80 to 90 is being charged for the distance from Raja Bazaar in Rawalpindi to Kahuta, Gujjar Khan and Kotli Sattian. The intra-city fare remains between Rs30 to Rs40 while intercity fares have not been reduced.

Asif Khan, the central leader of the Transport Federation, said that the price of petrol and diesel had consistently increased over the last six months. “But fares were not increased concurrently,” he continued.

“The price has been decreased now, but there might be an increase against after ten days,” he said adding that the prices of car tyres and spare parts had increased by 500 per cent. Vehicle challans have also been overcharged. “Hence, we cannot reduce fares,” Khan contended.

The RTA secretary said that the summary regarding fare reduction had been sent to the secretary of the provincial transport department. “A reduction is fares is expected with the issuance of notification,” he said.

Commuters Shahid Ali and Raja Sarfaraz said that the decrease in the prices of petrol and diesel should have been followed by a reduction in fare but no such relief had been provided to the passengers.

They also complained about the fares charged by private ride-hailing services, saying their fares should also be reduced. “Those working with a bike ride-and-delivery service are still charging a fare of Rs200 from Saddar to Faizabad and Rs100 from Saddar to Kachehri chowk,” said one commuter while calling for immediate action from the government on this issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2023.