Fuel price cut: Transport authority slashes stop-to-stop fare by One Rupee

Commuters say transporters still charging old rate .

ISLAMABAD: The Rawalpindi Transport Authority (RTA) on Monday revised local public transport fares following another reduction in petroleum prices. The new rates range between Rs11 and Rs29.

The authority also said it had impounded 500 vehicles and imposed fines of Rs900,000 on transporters in Rawalpindi Division for not implementing the new rates.

RTA said it had also directed cabs, rickshaws, and cargo vehicles to reduce their fares accordingly. He added that a proposal to install metres in taxis was also under consideration to ensure uniformity of fares. The commuters, however, said that the transporters were still charging according to the old fare schedule.

Ali Kazmi, a commuter, said many transporters were charging old fares even after 35 per cent reduction in petroleum prices. “The petrol price was Rs107 four months ago which is now at Rs70 but transporters were still charging Rs15 for stop-to-stop commuters,” he said. Kazmi added that many transporters cited petrol shortage as a reason for not reducing the fares.

Transporters say they have other expenditures to bear apart from petrol to run transport vehicles. “There are other expenses like replacement parts and vehicle maintenance,”said Tasawar Shah, a van driver.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2015.