Transporters, commuters at loggerheads over fares

Rawalpindi: People continue to leave for their hometowns to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families, creating extra ordinary rush at Railway Station and major bus terminals in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

At certain places, especially in Rawalpindi desperate passengers were seen exchanging hot words with drivers and conductors for charging twice the normal fare. Some drivers were found involved in using illegal tactics to charge exorbitant rates as they parked their vehicles away from passengers sight to create artificial shortage of vehicles.

Most out-of-town employees began leaving the twin cities on Friday evening to spend their Eid holidays with families.

“Taking advantage of the huge rush of passengers, the owners of public transport vehicles have started charging the homebound people extra, even double the regular fare, due to absence of proper monitoring by the government,” said Arshad Mughal, a commuter at Faizabad Bus station.

He said the traffic police and other regional transport authorities have made claims of taking action against the transporters for overcharging the passengers, but nothing on ground can be witnessed anywhere in the city.

Zahid Khattak, a bus driver, said they have hired special buses and coasters to meet the rush on Eid days and the owners of hired vehicles charge them extra money so they have to raise the fares.