Committee formed to regulate diplomatic shuttle service charges

Contractor of DSS not granted approval from Transport Authority.

ISLAMABAD: Taking action on a news story published in The Express Tribune, Commissioner Islamabad, Tariq Pirzada, has constituted a committee in the head of Secretary Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) to regulate the service charges of the Diplomatic Shuttle Service.

Aasia Gull, Secretary ITA, said that during investigation of the matter, it was revealed that the contractor of the diplomatic shuttle service had not gotten approval from the Transport Authority about the rates being charged. She said that following the commissioner’s directions, the committee started to investigate the matter.

Deputy Commissioner, Amir Ali Ahmad, told The Express Tribune that the joint committee of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) comprised Secretary ITA and Director Planning CDA would submit its report within three days.

He said that except for standard charges amounting to Rs200, ICT would not allow the owner of the shuttle service to demand high charges.

“The practice of over-charging and compulsion regarding usage of VIP lounge will also be discouraged,” he informed. He also confirmed that ITA did not give any approval to the owner of shuttle service to run his business in the capital city.

To a query, he replied that it was possible that the contract of the shuttle service may be cancelled. It would be necessary for CDA to present a complete record of the contract. “We also want continuation of the diplomatic shuttle service as the business increases revenue generation but we will not let any one to do so at the cost of common people,” the DC further said.

Ali said that the committee would investigate each and every aspect of the contract between CDA and the private contractor who was operating the diplomatic shuttle service business. “ICT was not taken on board regarding this contract,” he added.

The Express Tribune published a story on this odd situation on November 23. People visiting the diplomatic enclave for visa purposes were being over charged by the Diplomatic Shuttle Service. The contractor, Muhammad Hussain, had increased the fare by 150 per cent.

Apart from the designated waiting area, DSS administration had also introduced a ‘VIP’ waiting lounge. It had been made mandatory for US Embassy visitors to purchase a ticket worth Rs500 for the lounge. For the common waiting room, visitors were being charged Rs200 per head. Similarly, the administration is charging another Rs20 for car parking, due to which many visitors prefer to park their vehicles on the 3rd Avenue.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2010.