Cost concerns: ‘Further reduction in transport fares impossible’

The protesters protested against the RTA secretary and appealed to the chief minister to take notice of the situation.

FAISALABAD:

Scores of van drivers on Thursday protested against the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) secretary for impounding their vehicles on what they called flimsy charges. 

Wagon Union general secretary Naseer Ahmad Awan led the protest. The protesters carried placards and chanted slogans against the RTA secretary, demanding that he return their vehicles.

Talking to newsmen, Awan said, “We voluntarily lowered van fares after reductiona in fuel prices. The district administration is forcing us to further cut the fares, which is not possible.”

He said, “We lowered fares by Rs10 but the district administration demands a Rs30-35 revision.”

“If we do that, we will not be able to afford maintenance costs of our vehicles and pay tolls,” he said.

He said the RTA secretary had launched a drive against transporters not cutting fares.  “On the other hand, hundreds of motorcycle rickshaws are plying city roads without route permits but no one has taken any action against them,” he said.

The protesters chanted slogans against the RTA secretary and appealed to the chief minister to take notice of the situation.

The protestors said their vehicles should be immediately returned to them. They threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not heard.

A team from Civil Lines police station met the protesters and assured them that the issue would be resolved soon. On this assurance, the protesters called off their protest and dispersed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.