The Sindh government on Friday issued a revised notification regarding public transport fares and put excessive burden on the commuters after 'average' increase of Rs 2 and Rs 3.
Sources in Sindh Transport Department told Business Recorder that the authority has issued notification, which said that "after thoroughly reviewing" the relevant factors, like recent hike in POL rates announced by the government on different occasions from 17-4-2008 to 20-7-2008, capital, and operational cost of transport, conditions of the roads and traffic, it is advisable to re-fix the maximum fare rates of stage carriage and contract carriages and other vehicles.
They said that the department had reviewed proposals regarding revision of fares and consulted all stakeholders as required under section 45 of the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 before the announcement aimed at eliminating all grievances in this regard.
They said that the revision of fare is subject to conditions that the transporters would ensure to replace the old smoke emitting vehicles and make their vehicles environment-friendly, and avoid overloading of passengers. They added that transporters would also reduce the fare rates, if the prices of POL were lowered.
The revision of fares conferred by Sub-section (II) of section 45 of the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 and in supersession of all previous notifications issued in that behalf the government of Sindh has been pleased to re-fix the maximum rates for stage carriage and other vehicles plying on urban/inter-city routes in the Sindh Province with immediate effect, notification said.
According to notification, buses would charge Rs 10 up to 5 km, Rs 12 up to10 km and Rs 13 up to15 km and above against Rs 8, Rs 9, Rs 10, which they earlier charged, respectively. Students would pay only 50 percent of normal fare.
Similarly, minibuses would take Rs 11 up to 5 km, Rs 13 up to10 km and Rs 14 up to 15 km and above against Rs 9, Rs 10, Rs 11, respectively. The Sindh government has increased Rs 3 in coaches fares, which raised up to Rs 16 and Rs 17 for 10 km and 30 km and above, respectively.
According to the notification, 75 paisa, 80 paisa, Rs 1.5, 75 paisa, 90 paisa and Rs 1.10 have been increased in per km rates of metalled road buses, katcha road buses, air-conditioned coaches, minibuses, metalled road and stage-cum-public carriers, respectively. Moreover, the rates of KPTS buses and UTS buses have averagely been increased by Re 1 and Rs 2, and rickshaws and cabs rates have been increased with the same ratio.
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