The provincial government has sought the co-operation of provincial transport authorities (PTAs) of other provinces for regulating commuters' transport vehicles fares on inter-provincial roots to pass on the benefits of cut in petroleum price in the country.
Talking to this scribe, Secretary Provincial Transport Authority (PTA) Hamid Khan Gigiyani said that in the wake of the decline in the prices of petroleum products, the authority had announced 8 per cent in transport fares on the intra-provincial roots of the province.
He said that due to regulation of the transport fares in other provinces, the authority is facing difficulties in the implementation of cut in the fares. He said all transporters and drivers have been directed to fix new fare list at prominent places for facilitation of passengers and violators are being penalised besides imposition of heavy fines. In December last, he said more than 150 vehicles including 70 on the grounds of overcharging were penalized during inspections and heavy fines were imposed.
Gigiyani said it was the responsibility of administrators of bus terminals to ensure installation of new fare lists at prominent places and inform PTA in refusal cases for action. He said that a grand operation against the misuse of 'Rent a Car' facility in the province is also on cards in the wake of deadly terrorists' attack in the army public school (APS) and such business illegally operated would be closed. This decision, he said, was taken during a high-level meeting attended by senior officers of Transport Department, PTA and other concerned organisations held last week and decided to initiate action against illegally operating Rent a Cars plying on inter provincial and divisional routes.
Following a substantial decrease in prices of petroleum, he said, the Government has issued new fare list for all the vehicles plying on inter-divisional and districts routes that was being monitored by the field staff of regional transport authorities (RTAs) and PTA.
The fare of transport on inter-divisional routes has been reduced by 8 percent while efforts are being underway to bring more relief to common man, he maintained. He said the new fare list was sent to all the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and DIG Police of all the divisions of KPK for implementation. He said PTA regulates fare etc following an increase or decrease of fare in the interest of public service.
To reduce traffic incidents, he said, directives have been issued to field staff of RTAs to ensure that no flying-coach and buses should have exceeded of its gas cylinders quota and standard. In the past, he said, transport stands and terminals were sold out on high prices that had resulted high increase in fare of transports. He suggested adaptation of extra-care while awarding transport terminals on contract in future.