Tag: fare hike

  • Travellers suffer as transporters jack up prices before Eid

    Travellers suffer as transporters jack up prices before Eid

    The recent spike in petroleum prices has triggered a transportation crisis as transporters exploit passengers by hiking fares.

    With Eidul Fitr set for April 10, families are flocking to their hometowns, crowding terminals and the Rawalpindi Railway Station.

    The government’s decision to raise petroleum prices has made long-distance travel challenging for the public.

    Transporters, citing increased fuel costs, have raised fares by 30 to 40 per cent, with some even doubling the usual rates. Despite this, authorities appear indifferent to commuters’ plight.

    Secretary of the District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA), Muhammad Rashid, promises action to curb overcharging during Eid. He pledges strict measures, including fines and vehicle confiscation, and personally oversees terminals to enforce regulations.

    Many families express frustration with the timing of the official Eid holidays, urging for an earlier start to aid travel plans.

    Consequently, a significant number of non-local residents have already left, with more planning to depart by ‘Chand Raat.’ Concerns about overcrowded transportation hubs persist, especially at Rawalpindi Railway Station.

    To avoid anticipated congestion, many office-goers have sent their families ahead. Rashid Mehmood, bound for Lahore, recounts past experiences of exploitation by private transporters during festivals.

    Crowds gather at various terminals, eager to secure tickets for their journeys. However, irregularities in ticket sales emerge, with allegations of seat hoarding and ticket reselling at inflated prices.

    Further complaints arise about the lack of available vehicles despite valid tickets, highlighting systemic failures in managing overcharging and overloading concerns.

    As Eid approaches, addressing these issues becomes urgent, emphasising the need for swift regulatory measures to protect travellers’ rights and ensure fair access to transportation services.

  • Goods transporters implement 20% fare hike in response to soaring diesel prices

    Goods transporters implement 20% fare hike in response to soaring diesel prices

    Goods transporters raised their fares by 20 per cent in response to a recent surge in diesel prices on Thursday. The announcement came as the goods transporters association revealed their decision to implement a fare increase of 20 per cent, citing a substantial rise in diesel prices of up to Rs40 per litre over the span of 15 days.

    Rana Shoaib, the General Secretary of the Goods Transporters Association, conveyed in an official statement that their operational expenses had been significantly impacted by the substantial surge in diesel prices.

    He further elaborated that the provision of goods transportation services between major cities such as Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, and Peshawar has been sustained. However, the transporters are finding it increasingly challenging to bear the escalating financial burdens associated with fuel costs and spare parts.

    According to ARY News, Shoaib said that the decision to raise fares was a necessary step due to the considerable escalation in government-imposed fuel prices. Notably, earlier in the same month, local transporters independently elevated fares by as much as 20 per cent in response to a previous hike in fuel prices without any intervention or oversight from relevant authorities.

    Details indicate that local transporters unilaterally implemented fare increases ranging from Rs15 to Rs20 for stop-to-stop journeys, despite the absence of formal notifications regarding fare adjustments by the district administration.

    Furthermore, the fare hikes extended to transportation services between Karachi and other destinations like Hyderabad, Larkana, and Sukkur. This trend of fare increases also extended to buses and coaches operating within the city limits.

  • Punjab Transport Department increases non-AC bus fares by over 250%

    Punjab Transport Department increases non-AC bus fares by over 250%

    The Punjab Transport Department (PTD) has announced that it will increase the fares of non-AC buses in response to the rising prices of diesel and petrol.

    This decision will place an additional burden on the poor, as fares will increase by more than 250 per cent. The new fares for both inter and intra-city non-AC bus services will be implemented from April 25th.

    The fare for non-AC bus services operating between different cities will increase by 233 per cent to 267 per cent. Additionally, an increase of up to 267 per cent in the fares of non-AC buses and wagons has also been approved.

    Under the new policy, passengers travelling one to four km will see an increase from Rs14 to Rs47, a difference of Rs33.

    This fare hike will also make it more expensive for passengers to return to their cities from native towns, particularly after Eid-ul-Fitr.