Entra City Urban Transporters observed strike against hike in the petroleum prices, compelling commuters into endless miseries in the provincial metropolis here on Wednesday. People from different walks of life have to wait many hours for Rikshaw and Chingchi because of rush of passengers at various bus stops. Rikshaw drivers charged huge amount from commuters.
The chief executive of Niazi Express, Tariq Niazi told business Recorder "due to intolerable price hike in the petroleum there was no option for us except to go on strike". He said that government had not paid amount of subsidy to the Urban Transporters since 2007 to 2009. "Transport companies are in the financial crunch because of government anti-transport policy", he added.
The chief executive of the Sial Urban Transport Company told Business Recorder government should stop the financial murder of the transporters. He further said, "It is unaffordable for the investors to go on strike, but we were compelled to do so". We have made handsome investment in this sector, but government is creating hurdles rather to encourage, he added
It is pertinent to mention that Lahore Transport company (LTC), which was established in 2008 to revamp public transport system in the metropolis has failed to take appropriate steps for ending the miseries of the millions of commuters. Business Recorder has learnt that instead of improvement and progress in public transport, the number of buses of transport companies is declining day-by-day on all routes as the old buses, which became inoperative, are disappearing from roads.
While new buses, to replace them, are not being inducted despite acute shortage of public transport in the city. An official told Business Recorder that 'The Punjab government has offered 25 percent of the cost of each bus as subsidy to the bus operators (transporters) in view of the travel difficulties of the public'.
He said provision of a better transport facility is top priority of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. About the delay in negotiation with transporters, he said they were demanding 25 percent subsidy for all old buses launched on any route since 2006 till now.
He said the government agreed to pay them even the pending subsidy, but it would be done only if they urgently bring new buses for the masses. On all 55 routes designated for buses there is a shortage of public transport buses for passengers and it seems that about 70 percent commuters are destined to travel daily while standing in the open space between seats or hanging with the buses gates.
It is an uphill task for physically handicapped people, women and old people to catch a bus due to rush or lack of space in the buses. On the other hand, alternate public transport like Toyota vans and Mazda wagons have already been banned on many routes on the demand of owners of the big transport companies who enjoy mafia-like monopoly.