Transport fares slashed by 5%

Reduction in fares will apply on both inter-city, intra-city routes

RAWALPINDI:

To pass on immediate relief of the reduction in the petroleum prices to the public, the district administration on Thursday decided to reduce the public transport fares of all Rawalpindi routes by five per cent after consultation with the transporters. The reduction in fares will apply to both the intra-city and inter-city modes of public transport.

The development followed the announcement of the petrol price by Rs15 per litre and diesel by more than Rs 7 per litre by the federal government.

A meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and attended by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary, transporters and bus stand owners took a unanimous decision over fares by 5% on all routes after reviewing the fare lists. The cleanliness of bus stands also came under discussion.

DC Hassan Waqar Cheema instructed the RTA and the management of transport bases and transporters to display the list of fares at prominent places at all bus stands. A special squad should be formed to check the fares daily to implement the reduction in fares, he further instructed.

He further directed to raise awareness among the public regarding the reduction in fares by hanging banners at bus stops and stands. The DC further ordered to establish a complaint cell in the office of the RTA secretary for lodging public complaints regarding fares.

Stressing that a special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the bus stands, Cheema said that certificates would be given to the bus stands’ management if good arrangements are made for cleaning the bus stands.

RTA Secretary Arshad Ali told The Express Tribune that the reduction in fares would apply to both inter-city and intra-city public transport routes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2024.