Eid rush: Transporters overcharge passengers

Fares go up by 45 per cent.

RAWALPINDI:

People travelling on the motorway in public transport vehicles have complained of overcrowding, highlighting the trend to maximise profits at the expense of safety.

Transporters often carry extra passengers in violation of traffic rules, but the police ignore the issue, they said.

“The motorway police are no different from other traffic officials,” said Muhammad Jabbar, a resident of Mardan. He said that no vehicle is fined for carrying extra passengers.

According to motorway rules, a Hiace cannot carry more than 14 passengers, but they normally carry 18.

“The police rarely fine vehicles which violate traffic rules,” said Muhammad Ihsan, a conductor. “We cannot afford to carry only 14 passengers in a Hiace as oil prices are jumping with each passing day,” he added.

Meanwhile, transporters have started overcharging passengers who travel to Peshawar from Rawalpindi.

“The listed fare is Rs220, but they are charging Rs320 due to the Eid rush,” said Muhammad Wahab, a student of Quaid-e-Azam University.

Meanwhile, Regional Transport Authority Chairman Awais Tarar said, “We have received complaints of overcharging and different teams have been formed to take action against violators.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2013.