LAHORE, March 30: Commuters bitterly criticized poor service of the franchised transport companies during a half an hour surprise inspection by Punjab Transport Minister Rana Shamshad Ahmad Khan near the Postmaster General's Office here on Tuesday.

Commuters accused them of overloading, overcharging and keeping them waiting at the bus stops for long intervals. They said they could not reach their places of work in time in the morning because of shortage of buses as a result of which they came after long intervals.

They urged the minister either to ensure increase in the number of buses to prevent overloading or allow wagons to ply pending suitable increase in the number of buses.

Mr Khan expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of companies and directed the transport department officials to take steps for redressal of grievances of commuters.

Nine buses and two wagons were booked for overloading, overcharging, failure to display the fares and plying without route permits and driving licences during the inspection.

Two buses and a wagon were impounded because the drivers were not carrying route permits and fitness certificates. Most of the drivers and conductors were not wearing uniforms either. A wagon was caught operating on fake route permit.

Meanwhile, Regional Transport Authority secretary Khalid Mahmood Mela fined 26 buses for route diversion, operating with open doors and without necessary documents during a surprise checking in the cantonment area.