Eid exodus overwhelms bus, train stations

The bus stands and railway stations in the twin cities have become immensely crowded as non-resident workers leave to spend Eid Holidays with their loved ones in their hometowns.

The exodus has led to a massive crowd at transportation hubs, including the Rawalpindi railway station, General Bus Stand Pir Wadhai and other smaller and larger transportation terminals. Transporters took advantage of the situation by significantly increasing fares, leading to disputes and altercations with passengers throughout the day.

Surprisingly, no special Eid trains are operating from Rawalpindi this year, and neither are there any 20 per cent discounted tickets like in the past. Passengers were informed that the discount would only be applicable during the Eid holidays and not before.

Transporters have increased fares by Rs100 to Rs 150 for various routes, including Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Jhang, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Mardan and Kohat. Although the railway has reduced fares by up to 20 per cent for all trains, passengers have complained about being charged Rs90 in excess. The fare from Rawalpindi to Lahore is Rs1,140.

Trains from Rawalpindi to Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar are fully booked, with passengers struggling to secure seats. Those who could not find seats on buses headed to the railway station. Traffic of travellers crowds the Rawalpindi and Chaklala railway stations, particularly for those heading to Karachi and Multan.

In addition, local transport, including buses and coaches, have been diverted to long routes due to Eid which has caused difficulties for people travelling within districts and nearby areas.