Passengers complain of overcharging ahead of Eid

Reginal transport authority claims reducing fares ranging from Rs30 to Rs100

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RAWALPINDI:

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and district administration have announced a reduction in transport fares ranging from Rs30 to Rs100 for travel from Rawalpindi to various destinations, including Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, and South Punjab, ahead of Eid.

As people begin travelling to celebrate Eid with their families, transport hubs across the district— including the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand and the railway station— have become overcrowded.

However, complaints are pouring in about overloading and overcharging, with many travellers claiming that the announced fare reductions are not being implemented.

Reports suggest that full fares are being charged for small children, and luggage is being treated as an additional ticketed seat.

With the rush expected to intensify from Friday, security measures have been tightened.

Passengers are undergoing security checks before boarding, and CCTV cameras have been installed at all major transport hubs.

RTA field staff have also been deployed to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, local transport services have been diverted to long routes, causing disruptions in intra-city travel.

The shortage of public transport within the city has led to fare hikes on local routes, adding to commuter woes.

According to the RTA, revised fares include a reduction in the Rawalpindi-Lahore motorway fare from Rs1,700 to Rs1,600, while the Lahore GT Road fare has been reduced from Rs1,300 to Rs1,200.

The fare for Faisalabad has dropped from Rs1,350 to Rs1,280, Sargodha from Rs1,600 to Rs1,500, and Bhakkar from Rs1,900 to Rs1,800.

Similarly, travel from Rawalpindi to Gujranwala now costs Rs675 instead of Rs770, while the fare for Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, has been reduced from Rs1,200 to Rs1,100.

The fare for Bagh is now Rs780, down from Rs800, while Kotli's fare has been cut from Rs950 to Rs900.

Passengers travelling to Karachi will now pay Rs5,500 instead of Rs6,000, while those heading to Chitral will pay Rs2,500 instead of Rs2,600.

The fare for Quetta has been lowered from Rs3,500 to Rs3,400, while the sleeper service has dropped from Rs5,100 to Rs5,000.

For Peshawar, the fare is now Rs600 instead of Rs650, while for Mardan, it has been reduced from Rs425 to Rs405.

Travel to Mansehra now costs Rs540 instead of Rs570, Bannu Rs1,000 instead of Rs1,050, Kohat Rs270 instead of Rs285, and Charsadda Rs450 instead of Rs475.

Despite these reductions, passengers remain dissatisfied. Commuters at Pirwadhai Mor Transport Stand, including travellers Nazaqat Ali and Faizan, claim that fare cuts exist only on paper, and in reality, fares are being inflated, with buses being packed beyond capacity.

RTA Secretary Arshad Ali assured that from Thursday, March 27, field staff would be deployed at all transport terminals to enforce fare reductions. He warned that violations would lead to fines and vehicle impoundments. Assistant commissioners will also monitor the situation, conducting surprise checks to verify ticket prices and prevent overcharging and overloading.