The operators of the inter-city air-conditioned and local buses have arbitrarily raised the fares on all the upcountry routes because of an increase in the number of passengers travelling to their hometowns for Eid-ul-Fitr, it is learnt. The fares have been increased by at least Rs 400 to Rs 450 per seat at all the inter-city bus terminals of the city.
The passenger buses plying on Balochistan-Quetta, interior parts of Sindh and other upcountry routes are fleecing the poor citizens by over-charging at least Rs 400 per seat, according to a survey conducted by the Business Recorder on Thursday. Punjab-bound buses from the Cantt Station have also raised the fares and charging Rs 1,800 for Karachi to Lahore against Rs 1,400 last month. Some of the bus operators are also charging Rs 1,900 per seat for the same route.
The process of issuing tickets to the passengers was seemed nowhere and the passengers especially male were allotted stools in the bus. The buses which are being operated from the Taj Medical Complex, Saddar to different district headquarters of Sindh including Dadu, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Naushehro Feroz, Khairpur and Mirpurkhas have also increased the fares by at least Rs 400 per seat. The air-conditioned coaches of Karachi-Nawabshah route have increased their fares to Rs 500 (from Rs 220), Karachi-Larkana route Rs 800 to Rs 850 (from Rs 400).
The coaches for Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Chakwal and other cities have increased the fare by Rs 400 to Rs 500 per seat and charging Rs 2,200 per seat for Islamabad and Rawalpindi, however, the fares before Ramazan was Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,800 per passenger. The employees at the Booking Counters at Saddar and Sohrab Goth said this trend of increasing fares would continue till Eid-ul-Fitr.
They said the transporters increased fares during the last Ashra (ten days) of the holy month of Ramadan every year at their own will, as authorities concerned including police and transport department were not interested to take any action against the transporters who greased their palms regularly. Further, the passengers would have to pay the same high fares on their return from their native villages.
Tanveer Surhyo, a passenger travelling to Larkana from Sohrab Goth bus stop, told Business Recorder that he had paid Rs 600 per seat from Larkana district two days ago, however, the fares of the same route were increased arbitrarily by 200 per passenger by the transporters.
"It has become a routine phenomenon that the transporters increase the fares on all the routes at their own despite the fact that the services being provided to the commuters were not satisfactory", he added. Tanveer demanded of the government to have a proper check and balance on the transport 'Mafia' and ensure cheaper travelling facilities to the poor people who wish to celebrate Eid and other festivities with their beloved ones.