PESHAWAR, Dec 3: People travelling between Peshawar and Swabi districts on vehicles known as ‘flying coaches’ now have to pay Rs15 extra each time they make the trip via the Motorway.
They are charged Rs70 as opposed to the previous fare of Rs55 while transporters pay Rs100 as toll tax.
A number of passengers on their way to Peshawar told this reporter that the Motorway was proving to be an expensive facility but they had no other choice.
Many people work in Peshawar and travel every week to spend some time with their families in Swabi.
“Instead of facilitating the commuters, the motorway is proving to be a problem as we have to pay high fare,” complained Khalid Khan.
There have been many verbal altercations between passengers and drivers of the coaches over the increase in the fare. “Is the Motorway a punishment or a facility for commercial vehicle passengers?” questioned another passenger.
When a driver was asked if the Motorway had proved to be a facility for them he said that it only saved them time but the fuel expenditure had increased.
Giving reason for the increase in fare, the driver told that they used to spend Rs800 on fuel every round trip between Peshawar and Swabi but now the fuel expenditure was Rs950. They also had to pay the toll tax so the transporters had no choice but to increase the fare, he said.
Transporters had no association or union to decide the increase or decrease the fare.
