The decision to impose the fare came after the government realised that genuine travellers were being forced to use alternative means of transport while joy riders continued their brouhaha. PHOTO: TARIQ HASSAN/EXPRESS
The government has decided to put an end to the rumpus created by free Metro Bus rides by imposing a flat rate of Rs20 as of Sunday, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The Metro Bus Service (MBS) personnel had tried their best to discipline commuters and encourage them to form queues to board buses, but they continued taking joy rides pushing their way through.
The authority had deputed a policeman and an internee in every bus to educate people on public transport etiquette but very few people paid heed to them. The decision to impose the fare came after the government realised that genuine travellers were being forced to use alternative means of transport while joy riders continued their brouhaha.
The MBS will charge Rs20 for the journey irrespective of destination from Sunday. A token would be issued for now. It will be upgraded to a card and an automatic machine system later.
Passengers at the Kalma Chowk station The Express Tribune talked to expressed relief and thanked the government for acknowledging the joy-riding problem.
Usman Ali, a handicapped student at the station, said he had been waiting for an hour to board a bus. Whenever a bus arrived at the station, some people would storm out but no one would be allowed in. He said the new fare would improve the situation a lot.
Lahore Transportation Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan told The Express Tribune the government had decided to introduce the fare early to discourage joy-riders from wrecking the buses.
MBS personnel will continue educating travellers about transport etiquette. He said he had visited the MBS and noticed that men had on their own allowed women to occupy the front half of the bus.
Punjab Metro Bus Service Authority General Manager Uzair Shah said he had not been told about the introduction of the fare. However, he said this will reduce the number of passengers by 70 percent. “Only then will we know how many people actually intend on using this service,” Shah said. Stations will become off-limits to visitors as they would need to buy the token to enter the station, he added.
He said people all the way from Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Kasur had come to enjoy the free ride and see the city. Since these people did not have a particular destination in mind, they boarded buses from Gujjumata and Shahdara and did not get off, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Munna! Dear real life is never mathemetaical. It seems justified in a developed country that u pay tax and u get the entertainment. In real social life, particularly, in an underdeveloping country like ours, its not true. Where there is no writ of government, where there is poor than poorer governance, where there is no energy, u cant talk of mathematics. If u would do that, then u would face these youngsters as thieves, dacoits, burglers and remember law enforcing agencies would also join the party with these youngsters. Let them enjoy with this bus. They are our brothers and they deserve it as the ruling class has no plan for them - nothing to offer. With the passage of time, they will learn how to live with the educated and elite class, insha Allah
@Maria: Perhaps you misunderstood me but I don't think I was ambiguous with my comment. I said that the service being free was a pre-election stunt not the establishment of the RTS.
Yaar instead of getting angry and saying oh look how bad we are, we should be happy and proud. People from across Pakistan are visiting Lahore just for the Metro Bus Service. It tells you that there is great demand for public transportation in every city of Pakistan.
@Waseem Sarwar: I don't live in Lahore; Perhaps you should see how things are improving in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Gujranwala. Like Lahore they have all grown and prospered over the last few years. Just ask yourself where in Pakistan there is relative stability and growth- if you mean to say that Punjab isn't 1st - even without any Federal support, then you really need to check your glasses! When all is said and done, this project is an investment in the people just like the Motorway. We have seen how the Motorway has proved useful; Why not wait an see how this project turns out before just complaining?
Since the bus was meant to be free for one month, why not take this 20 rupees and put them in a fund and after a month give this money to certain cultural projects to create more activity in the city. . For example, if the collected money is in Crores, why not invest this money into Lollywood. This will create film activity and create jobs in the city. . We have built the bus, now the money needs to be poured into cultural activities to make city more interesting and commercially successful too (so that the only entertainment is not forcing your way through the buses for free rides)
Politicians taking Pakistanis for a free ride. No one has a written a blog on sexual abuse of women in these "free" buses yet.
@Salis Usman:
You pay tax. You get entertainment. You dont pay tax...you enjoy yourself!
Wow!!! Shops doing roaring business on the bus rout! Imagine people coming from all over. Now the chief minister recalls the FREE rides.
What kind of people are we Pakistanis? We only deserve disasters.
@Maria: Punjab developing? you got to be kidding me. Punjab is a huge province and it does exist outside boundaries of Lahore city.
Such things happen when ONE man tries to control entire province. I don't blame public for this mess but Punjab Govt's mismanagement, lack of intelligence and reactive approach.
@Maria
All the money is being spent on Lahore while other cities continue to suffer
It’s going to be huge success, provided accordingly managed with strict administration!! People living in Lahore can only ascertain the value because this route supports/serves a sizable public, traveling both ways!
By the way...has shahbaz started using the bus like he said he would for one week?
This waste of public money will be derelict relic within a few years. Period.
@PakPower: If the things politicians do for votes is to create infrastructure projects for the electorate, then I wish we have more politicians like Shahbaz Sharif! Take a look at how Punjab is developing and remains stable despite all of the trouble you see in other provinces. The bus project just like the motorway project is meant to improve transport- Most people in Punjab have welcomed the project for good reason. The motorway has been indispensible now and people called it a stunt for votes too. I like such stunts that improve the lives of citizens!
People are frustrated and living in a place where there is no fun. What is the problem with the elites if ordinary people are having fun. Let them have it for a while. These are the people who are not yet bore of air travelling like the elite. They will stop after a few days to get back to their business. Secondly think for a while, mainly it is the youth; can we provide them the oppurtunities to work and earn (provide electricity and better law and order situation)then they will go to work and will start counting rupees. People dont have working oppurtunities and they want to have fun for a while and the people who have dollars, lucrative jobs and the power are denying this. Is it fair?
"a wonder last but nine days" this is a proverb but here in the Punjab wonder just lasted three days and proved that aforementioned proverb should be reviewed. Check the vision of the boss and subordinates can't assess and plan. can't run a bus and wish to run the country, living in a fool's paradise.
The Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System offered free rides to passengers for the first three months. Wonder how the crowds were handled.
It should never have been free in the first place. The things these politicians do for votes. facepalm
There is a joke of a zebra who understood everything the next day. Explains this situation very well.
BONEHEAD NATION.