KOHAT, Nov 17: Local people have demanded launch of a bus service in the district as majority of them cannot afford high taxi rates.

Successive governments promised to start a bus service in Kohat but failed to fulfill the promise, much to the dismay of people. During the local government system the then district nazim, Malik Asad, had planned to start the service, but dropped the idea over immense pressure of 5,000 taxi owners, explained the local people.

They said that presently there was no bus service in the 2,830 square kilometers area of Kohat. “Arrival of millions of IDPs from conflict zones has also stressed out the existing modes of public transport like Suzuki pickups,” said a commuter.

Similarly, the government didn’t meet a demand to construct a bus stand at a suitable place so inhabitants of KDA could easily get to Peshawar and Rawalpindi through the newly constructed KDA bypass originating from Kohat Tunnel. Absence of a bus stand residents have to travel 10-12 kilometers to reach the new bus stand located outside the city, complained the commuters.

Thousands of people visit the KDA daily and on week ends as it houses divisional headquarters hospital, passport and Nadra offices, Al Shifa Eye Trust Hospital, district secretariat, parks and playgrounds, said a commuter.

The local residents said taxi drivers charged Rs150 from Kohat city to KDA (five kilometers) and Rs300 vice versa, which they couldn’t afford.