Growing intolerance: Brawl over fare, routine matter among passengers, transporters in Peshawar

Peshawar

Scuffle and brawl over fleecing has become a routine matter among passengers and conductors, commuting on roads in the provincial metropolis while officials of the transport department have turned a blind eye to overcharging of passengers by van owners.

Public transporters, especially commuting wagons, mazda and coaches, flouting the approved fare list of the provincial government and overcharging the passengers.

The public transporters were allegedly charging Rs30 per stop but the passengers were seen exchanging harsh words and insisting to pay Rs20 per stop according to the government fare list.

Anwar Zeb, a resident of Buner, told APP that he used private transport on a daily basis and witnessed a routine scuffle and brawl over fare matters.

Usman Ali, a resident of Mardan, said that he used the BRT to avoid scuffles and brawls in private transport vehicles.

When contacted an official of the transport department, he said that the rate of petrol was reduced to Rs10 per litter so the department has fixed Rs20 per stop. He said that the passengers should point out vans that are charging excessive fares than are fixed by the transport department.

The passengers appealed to the traffic police to ask passengers about the fare being paid to conductors on different stops.

Note: The feature was published on APP website, a state-run news agency, on Friday, April 15. It is reproduced by The Penpk.com.