May 06, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1429

KARACHI, May 5: Sindh Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik has directed DCO Karachi to either bring improvement in the Metrobus service or reduce its fare to the level of the ordinary coach service.

Taking notice of a complaint regarding the declining standard of Metrobus service, the ombudsman observed that it was introduced with an aim of making available a decent mode of transport to citizens at affordable fare. However, he observed, its standard was declining due to a lack of attention to its affairs on the part of the KPTS governing body, which had not held its meeting for years.

The ombudsman directed the DCO Karachi, who is also chairman of the KPTS, to convene a meeting of its governing body within a month to resolve the issues pertaining to the Metrobus service.

“Every effort be made by the governing body to restore the service standard of the Metrobus service to the level that had been maintained in the past,” he ordered, adding that in case the quality of service with existing fleet of vehicles was not possible to be improved, then the fares charged for the service be reduced to the level of ordinary coaches.

The complainants had maintained that the distinctive features of the Metrobus service included seat accommodation for every passenger, uniformed crew and cleanliness. But, they observed, these features were no more available, still the premium fare was being charged which was not justifiable.

Representatives of the transporters operating the Metrobus service argued that at the time of the launching of the service, diesel was available at Rs9.8 per litre and the fare stood at Rs10 per passenger but the diesel rate had since gone up to Rs47.2 per litre and the fare was fixed at Rs18 per passenger. The disparity, they maintained, was causing them losses and making it very difficult to offer the prescribed quality and standard.—APP