Transporters fleece homebound commuters
Passengers are packed shoulder-to-shoulder inside a bus in complete violation of Covid SOPs for public transport. Photo: express
Keeping in view the extraordinary rush of passengers at the bus stands across the garrison city, the transporters have arbitrarily hiked the public transport fares, causing problems for the non-native workers who travel to their hometowns to celebrate the joys of Eid with their families.
Sources said passengers were facing immense difficulties due to a lack of facilities, non-availability of clean drinking water and shortage of vehicles at the transport bases of the twin cities, including the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand.
The migrants demanded the federal government take notice of the situation. Alif Khan, a passenger travelling to DG Khan from the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand, said the transporters have increased the fares from Rawalpindi to DG Khan by Rs200 to Rs500.
“On asking the reason, the transporters have made the excuse of Eidi. What kind of Eidi is this which is being forcibly collected from the people?” he questioned. “The prices of petroleum products went down earlier this month but the transporters have hiked the fares, causing serious inconvenience to the passengers.”
Muhammad Arif, a passenger travelling from Islamabad to Karachi, said “Air-conditioned buses have also increased fares. On the occasion of Eid, passengers travelling from the federal capital to the port city are being charged Rs1000 per ride.”
“Contrary to the claims, overloading is also being done in public transport. Additional passengers are being accommodated by placing small chairs in the middle of the buses, causing inconvenience to the passengers,” he added.
Another passenger travelling from the garrison city to Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir complained about the lack of facilities at the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand.
“In extreme heat, there is no shade at the bus base and no clean drinking water, which is a problem for the travellers, especially females, going to their native areas,” he said. “There is no seating arrangement for women and children.”
On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Regional Transport Authority officials said action was being taken against transporters charging excessive fares. Officials of the RTA along with City Traffic Police, Islamabad Traffic Police and Motorway Police were taking action against such transporters against whom complaints of charging excessive fares were received, they said.
On the complaints of lack of facilities and overloading at the bus stations, RTA officials said the tehsil municipal administration and the district administration were taking various measures to resolve such complaints and provide facilities to the passengers.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2023.