Lowered rates: Unaware of new fares, travellers continue to pay more

New prices yet to be displayed at the Kohat Bus Terminal.


Abdur Rauf June 15, 2012

PESHAWAR: Three days after the Provincial Transport Authority issued revised fares, both drivers and passengers remain clueless about the lowered rates.

The list issued on June 12 revises rates for various routes leading from Peshawar to southern districts of the province, but they have neither been displayed for passengers at the Kohat Bus Terminal (KBT), Peshawar nor are they available on buses.

According to the recent changes, coaches and minibuses are to charge Rs1.20 per kilometer. The transport authority changed prices after diesel was reduced to Rs 105 per litre although the buses that travel on routes between Peshawar and southern districts, including Kohat, Karak, and Bannu, run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Fares from Peshawar to Bannu, which has a distance 192 kilometers, should now be Rs230, but they remain at Rs250. Travellers from Peshawar to Karak  – a distance 130km – pay Rs170 for a ticket, although according to the list they should be charged Rs156.

Meanwhile, people travelling the 65km journey from the provincial capital to Kohat pay Rs110 against the rightful Rs78.

Bus driver Rasheed Khan, while waiting for passengers in his Hiace said: “I have not seen any such orders,” while passenger Haqnawaz, 45, was just as oblivious.

An official of the Regional Transport Authority, the implementation department for transport fares, told The Express Tribune that the police had been told to publicise the revised rates. “We have to rely on police officers to ensure implementation,” he said requesting anonymity.

He, however, added that technically there is no connection between diesel rates and bus fares, since most coaches use CNG.

Saddar Circle DSP Shaukat Ali Khan, whose office is located at the terminal, said the RTA has not told the police to introduce the fares at the terminal. Whenever there is any resistance to orders, the police helps the department concerned, he said.

Secretary RTA-Peshawar, Ahmad Naseem was not available at his office.

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