Eid hustle: Private transporters cash in on commuters struggle

Rawalpindi:A 20 per cent reduction in railway fares has led to an overwhelming hustle at Rawalpindi Railway Station (RRS), as families scramble to leave for their hometowns ahead of Eidul Fitr, expected to fall on March 31, 2025. However, while rail passengers benefit from lower fares, those relying on private transport face a different reality—rampant overcharging by transporters exploiting the festive rush.

With petroleum prices at an all-time high, private bus and wagon operators have taken full advantage of the situation, demanding inflated fares from desperate travellers. On Thursday, major bus terminals, including Faizabad, Pirwadhai, Soan, Peshawar Morr, and Karachi Company, were jam-packed with passengers struggling to secure reasonably priced tickets.

District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Rashid Ali told The News that special monitoring teams have been deployed to curb fare violations. “Transporters are not allowed to overcharge passengers. Strict action will be taken against violators, including FIR registration,” he warned. He assured that these teams would remain stationed at all major terminals throughout the holiday period.

Despite these assurances, passengers at various bus terminals reported widespread fare hikes, with some transporters demanding nearly double the usual rates. “The authorities are turning a blind eye while powerful transporters exploit commuters,” lamented a traveller at Pirwadhai. Although official Eid holidays begin on Monday, many non-local residents have already left, and the remaining are expected to travel until Chand Raat. As a result, securing a bus or train ticket in the coming days is expected to become even more challenging.

Muhammad Saeed, a passenger heading to Lahore, expressed frustration over private transporters’ unethical practices. “I always prefer traveling by train during Eid because road transport is unpredictable. Private bus operators overcharge and misbehave with passengers,” he said, while praising the government’s decision to reduce train fares. He urged authorities to impose similar fare cuts on private transport.

Anwar Shah, a passenger bound for Sahiwal, alleged that booking staff at a bus terminal manipulated ticket sales. “They reserve tickets under fake names and later sell them to commuters at inflated prices,” he claimed. Similarly, some passengers at the Soan bus terminal complained that they had tickets but no available vehicles to take them to their destinations. “I have a ticket for Faisalabad, but the administration isn’t arranging a wagon,” one traveller reported.

Commuters across Rawalpindi and Islamabad voiced frustration over the authorities’ failure to regulate fares and curb overloading. With Eid celebrations fast approaching, thousands of travellers remain at the mercy of private transporters who continue to operate without accountability.