Why the government was allowing CNG cylinders on the rooftops of some vehicles, which was equally dangerous, says Van owner Raja Naseer DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD
A protest by private van owners and drivers who ferry students to different schools and colleges created a massive traffic jam on Benazir Bhutto Road on Wednesday.
The protest continued for almost three hours and students, causing office-workers and pedestrians severe difficulty in reaching their destinations on time.
They were protesting against the one-week deadline given by the Rawalpindi City District Government (CDG) to remove CNG kits from their vehicles.
The Rawalpindi CDG on Monday gave a one-week deadline to the owners of private vans including pickups to remove CNG kits from the vehicles, besides asking public transporters to remove CNG cylinders from the passenger sitting area.
The protesters parked their vehicles on the main road, which caused the massive traffic snarl-up.
They said one-week was insufficient for them meet the deadline and claimed that removal of CNG from their vehicles would have a direct bearing on poor parents.
The owners and drivers of private vans charge parents on their own terms and conditions, claiming they run their vehicles on petrol. The installation of CNG kits on vans has compromised the safety of the students, who often risk their lives travelling in CNG-fitted vehicles. On March 25, a CNG kit in a school van caught fire in Gujrat, claiming the lives of 19 students and a teacher.
The protesters, who demanded that the government also issue orders to public transporters to remove CNG kits from their vehicles, were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the CDG and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
Muhammad Wasim, owner of a Suzuki pickup, said he ferries students to a school and it will be very difficult for him to remove the CNG kit and run his vehicle on petrol.
Raja Naseer, a van owner, said the CDG’s decision was a joke for poor owners of vans, who provide pick and drop services to students.
He asked why the government was allowing CNG cylinders on the rooftops of some vehicles, which was equally dangerous. He demanded that the removal of CNG kits should be across the board.
Meanwhile, RTA Secretary Awais Tarar, the Rawalpindi DCO and the Traffic SSP held talks with the protesters and assured them their demands will be addressed by Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2013.
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