ISLAMABAD  - People of the twin cities have rejected hike in local transport fares on directive of the Punjab government, while the transporters have started fleecing commuters.
According to new fare list issued by the Punjab government in which stop to stop fare was increased from Rs 13 to Rs 15 while long distance by Rs 7 to Rs 10, resultantly quarrels had been taking place on daily basis among the passengers and transporters.
On one side three-day weekly scheduled closure of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has paralysed the routine life in the twin cities while on the other hand transporters have made life of the commuters miserable by subjecting them to daily harassment.
Zaheer Abbasi, a resident of G-9/1, told this agency that the Punjab government has raised the fares, but the transporters are also fleecing the commuters of Islamabad. “We don’t know what to do because the transporters demand extra money while closure of CNG stations also prompt transporters to fleece the poor masses,” he added. The commuters complained that transporters do not complete their routes and lay-off people before the stop. Similarly, students coming from far-off areas are regularly seen jostling for space in the vans.
Sanam Ali, a student, said due to financial problems, she couldn’t pay full fare of the hired pick and drop van, while the local transporters do not allow students concession. She added that girl students and especially female commuters have to wait for a long time to find a seat due to which they often reach their destination too late. She demanded the authorities concerned to provide sufficient buses for colleges, especially women.