Many residents have no access to public transport
February 02, 2009
Rawalpindi
Residents of many localities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have no access to public transport despite the fact that a total of 2,186 wagons, 5,019 Suzuki pick-ups and 1,200 Ching-Chi rickshaws are plying as public transport with legal permits on key routes.
According to the data collected by the District Regional Transport Authority, 678 wagons are plying on Route No.1 from Saddar to Pak Secretariat, 478 wagons on Route No.1-C from Chungi No.22 to Karachi Company, 350 wagons on Route No.21 from Soan Terminal to Pak Secretariat, 600 wagons on Route No.7 from Golra Mor to Rawat, 80 wagons on Route No.6 from Saddar to Pak Secretariat through Lal Quarters. As many as 5,019 Suzuki pick-ups are plying on different routes including Dhoke Syedan, Kutchery, Dhamyal, Dehri, Tench Bhatta, Golra, Lalkurti, Bakramandi, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Khanna, Ali Pur Frash, Sihala and some other localities while Chung-Chi rickshaws are plying to facilitate public on different routes.
According to a survey conducted by ‘The News’, residents of many localities are still deprived of the transport facility forcing them to walk to approach the main stops everyday. The residents of Lal Quarters in the federal capital are facing difficulties in approaching the main stops for travelling to Rawalpindi. The areas in Rawalpindi where there is no transport are Korang Town, Jhang near Adiala Jail, Christian Colony, Misriyal Road, Dhoke Juma, Dhama Syedan, Sher Zaman Colony and some other localities where locals hire taxis or walk for long distance to reach their destinations due to non-availability of public transport.
More than 50,000 people doing jobs in the public and private sector daily commute between Rawalpindi and Islamabad and thousands of them are still deprived of any kind of transport facility.
District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Malik Tariq Raheem Haidri told ‘The News’ that he could not allow transporters to ply on such routes without completion of papers like route permits. He said that he challaned 575 vehicles, impounded 217 vehicles, imposed fines worth Rs215,000 within a week for not have route permits, driving licences, overloading, and not displaying fare lists.
He said that he issued route permits to 80 wagons for Route No.6. “It is the duty of secretary Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) to stop violations because it is his jurisdiction.” He said that he wrote many letters to ITA to resolve the matter but it seems they are not interested in this matter, he said.
He said that transporters should come forward to ply transport in areas where there is no transport facility who would be given maximum facilities. But transports without legal papers would not be allowed, he added.
The locals of twin cities told ‘The News’ that shortage of public transports is a major issue, but the government is continuously ignoring this issue of public interest. Rehana Ahmed, a government servant, said that she approaches her office facing great humiliation as there is no place for females in wagons due to which they have to wait for hours on stops.
Irfan Saddique, a student, said that the present government has snatched every facility from the public and put more burdens on commuters by raising fares of public transport.
Munir Ahmed Malik, a resident of Lal Quarter said that concerned authorities should insist transporters for plying wagons through Lal Quarters or they should take strict action against them. Hundreds of locals suffer everyday due to non-completion of route by the wagons drivers, he said.
Residents of many localities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have no access to public transport despite the fact that a total of 2,186 wagons, 5,019 Suzuki pick-ups and 1,200 Ching-Chi rickshaws are plying as public transport with legal permits on key routes.
According to the data collected by the District Regional Transport Authority, 678 wagons are plying on Route No.1 from Saddar to Pak Secretariat, 478 wagons on Route No.1-C from Chungi No.22 to Karachi Company, 350 wagons on Route No.21 from Soan Terminal to Pak Secretariat, 600 wagons on Route No.7 from Golra Mor to Rawat, 80 wagons on Route No.6 from Saddar to Pak Secretariat through Lal Quarters. As many as 5,019 Suzuki pick-ups are plying on different routes including Dhoke Syedan, Kutchery, Dhamyal, Dehri, Tench Bhatta, Golra, Lalkurti, Bakramandi, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Khanna, Ali Pur Frash, Sihala and some other localities while Chung-Chi rickshaws are plying to facilitate public on different routes.
According to a survey conducted by ‘The News’, residents of many localities are still deprived of the transport facility forcing them to walk to approach the main stops everyday. The residents of Lal Quarters in the federal capital are facing difficulties in approaching the main stops for travelling to Rawalpindi. The areas in Rawalpindi where there is no transport are Korang Town, Jhang near Adiala Jail, Christian Colony, Misriyal Road, Dhoke Juma, Dhama Syedan, Sher Zaman Colony and some other localities where locals hire taxis or walk for long distance to reach their destinations due to non-availability of public transport.
More than 50,000 people doing jobs in the public and private sector daily commute between Rawalpindi and Islamabad and thousands of them are still deprived of any kind of transport facility.
District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Malik Tariq Raheem Haidri told ‘The News’ that he could not allow transporters to ply on such routes without completion of papers like route permits. He said that he challaned 575 vehicles, impounded 217 vehicles, imposed fines worth Rs215,000 within a week for not have route permits, driving licences, overloading, and not displaying fare lists.
He said that he issued route permits to 80 wagons for Route No.6. “It is the duty of secretary Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) to stop violations because it is his jurisdiction.” He said that he wrote many letters to ITA to resolve the matter but it seems they are not interested in this matter, he said.
He said that transporters should come forward to ply transport in areas where there is no transport facility who would be given maximum facilities. But transports without legal papers would not be allowed, he added.
The locals of twin cities told ‘The News’ that shortage of public transports is a major issue, but the government is continuously ignoring this issue of public interest. Rehana Ahmed, a government servant, said that she approaches her office facing great humiliation as there is no place for females in wagons due to which they have to wait for hours on stops.
Irfan Saddique, a student, said that the present government has snatched every facility from the public and put more burdens on commuters by raising fares of public transport.
Munir Ahmed Malik, a resident of Lal Quarter said that concerned authorities should insist transporters for plying wagons through Lal Quarters or they should take strict action against them. Hundreds of locals suffer everyday due to non-completion of route by the wagons drivers, he said.
