KARACHI, June 6: Violation of rules in public transport is on the rise and despite the government pledges to make the public transport people friendly, the conditions are showing a downward trend with every passing day.

Over speeding, smoke-emitting buses and coaches, smoking in public transport, vulgar songs, travelling of male passengers in ladies compartments and misbehaviour of drivers and conductors with the passengers have become the order of the day.

Over-speeding is really endangering the lives of commuters, as drivers try to overtake each other to pick maximum number of passengers exposing the lives of not only the commuters but also the pedestrians to grave danger and risk.

Another problem is the occupation of seats by the male passengers in portion designated for women causing the miseries for them. The government had announced that no man would be allowed to sit in ladies compartment, but the law is being grossly violated.

Expressing resentment over the negligence of authorities, a woman said, “There is already a very little space designated for ladies in the public transport. But, the situation worsen with a number of male passengers occupying the portion for ladies.”

She said, “We have been repeatedly listening the pledges and high claims by government for the last many years, but all such announcements fall on the deaf ears of the traffic police officials.”

When asked from a man about the occupation of ladies compartment by men, he replied, “I admit that women have to face such problems. But, the responsibility lies on conductors, as they persuade men to use seats designated for ladies in the peak hours to make maximum profits.

During the peak hours, when everybody is in hurry to reach his place of work in time, he boards on the bus wherever the space is available, he added.”

Smoking is another problem causing health hazard to the non- smoker commuters. The government has been promulgating ordinances to ban smoking in transports and public places.

Recently, a fresh ordinance has been imposed prohibiting smoking in public transport effective from June 1, 2003. The ordinance envisages penalties in case of violation, but there is no sign of its enforcement.

Conditions are as it were before the promulgation of this ordinance and the lives of non-smokers are being continuously affected by the harmful smoke.

The commuters also have to face rude and non-cooperative attitude of conductors. Exchange of harsh words and scuffles between staff and the commuters has become a routine especially on fares. The real cause behind such attitude, according to another passenger, is the illiteracy among the drivers and conductors. He said, “They have no education, how to deal with human beings. They are only concerned with profits.”

He said that a law should be made which make minimum education of matriculation a pre-requisite for drivers and conductors. He said that a training institution for drivers and conductors should also be established.

A senior citizen remarked, “How can one expect enforcement of laws, when the enforcers violate laws themselves. I have seen policemen smoking in the public transport, so what message would passengers get if they see such sorts of scenes,” he said. The government has a fitness department, which issues the fitness certificate after inspection of the vehicle.—PPI