Transporters taking advantage of the passengers' rush, who wanted to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their near and dear ones in their home towns, on Sunday were charging extra fares.
All bus and wagon terminals were jam packed with passengers as trains had already been booked. They were seen wandering between terminals to get seat in coaches bound to their destination.
The passengers at Pirwadhai, Peshawar Mor, Hamrahi, Faizabad and Soan stands while talking to APP, complained of overcharging by the transporters. They were taking full advantage of special occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and demanding high fares but the authorities concerned were not monitoring the situation, they added.
Majid, who was at Pirwadhai Bus-Stand with his family to board a coach for Sialkot, said transporters were demanding extra money as Eid tax, but it was difficult to afford the same for his eight-member family.
The government should arrange more special trains and buses at least on special occasions like Eid to provide relief to the public, he demanded.
Another female passenger waiting for a bus at Faizabad, said transporters were even charging fare for luggage equivalent to a full seat, which in normal conditions, was not demanded. Even, small children were not being spared, she added.
Tahir at Soan Wagon Stand said that his family was leaving for Gujranwala to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr after paying exorbitant fare.
Meanwhile, officers of District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) and City Traffic Police said that special teams were formed for checking fare violations.
The teams were visiting all terminals to check violations, it was claimed.
The passengers should note the number of bus/wagon in case of over-charging, misbehaving etc and inform the authorities concerned assuring that they would take stern action against them and the violators would face strict action.
Secretary RTA Rawalpindi Owais Manzoor Tarar said that the passengers can register their complaints at a control room set up in this regard with telephone number 9270011.