KARACHI, Oct 6: The Metro operators, running coasters from Malir Cantt to various parts of the city under the Karachi Public Transport Society, are fleecing commuters by charging exorbitant fares on various routes.
They have made an increase of Rs4 on route 9-C (Malir Cantt-Saddar), from Rs11 to 15. Moreover, an increase of Rs2 has been made on Malir-Tower route. Similar increases have been made on 9-A, 9-B, 15-A and Malir-Quaidabad Superhighway routes.
The fare increase has put the commuters in a fix, and they have questioned the ratio of the increase. Often altercations take place between the Metro staff and the commuters.
Moreover, the new route operators have been charging Rs10 for just one stop. Earlier, the lowest minimum fare was Rs5 for students and those commuting between Malir Cantt and Malir Halt.
There are also complaints about violation of rules by the metro buses. AC service has been disbanded and non-AC buses have been brought on Route 15-A, area people said.
Previously, the worldwide operators had been offering AC service for Tower from Malir Cantt to Tower via Sharea Faisal on Route 15-A and from Malir Cantt to Clifton, and Tower via Gulistan-i-Jauhar. But since the operator had handed buses to new operators, air conditioners have been removed. Now commuters pay the same fare for non-AC service.
Inquiries revealed that as the route remained closed for about three months, the Sindh transport authorities adopted a lenient view and did not take action against the operator.
Now the route has once again been started with a reduced frequency of buses. Many buses, earlier available on at least three routes after every six minutes, have been shifted to Punjab.
Violation of rules by the operators and removal of air conditioners has opened a barrage of complaints by the commuters. Area people said the fares were not approved by the transport authorities.
The only answer with the staff accompanying the buses is that commuters can make a complaint with our company as they can’t do anything, and it is the company concerned which is responsible for the removal of air conditioners and increase in fares.
They said that buses which were in good shape had been shifted to Multan by the operator and the Sindh government had failed to force the transport company in question to bring back the buses. Whatever the faulty buses have been retained in Karachi has been given under the management of Ehsanullah Hasan Zai group.
The residents of Safoora goth, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Malir and Shah Faisal have demanded of the authorities to make the operator to observe rules.
