LAHORE, Nov 3: Replacement of wagons by franchised buses has brought no relief to the commuters. Those complaining against being stuffed in wagons are now being forced to travel in crowded buses on franchised routes due to misuse of monopoly by most of the transport companies.

The government decided to replace rashly-driven wagons by franchised buses with incentives in the form of a subsidy on bank loans’ markup and monopoly on routes in the wake of complaints of rash driving and overloading against the operators. Elimination of wagons has solved the problem of rash driving on the franchised routes, but the passengers are seen waiting for buses on almost all stops as the companies are not plying the required number of buses.

No passengers were seen on stops when wagons were in operation as the individual operators increased the frequency in accordance with the increase in number of passengers. The franchised company employees feel no compulsion to increase the frequency of buses because they know that the passengers have no alternatives, but to wait for their buses.

Transport companies have been given monopoly on the franchised routes to profit by carrying all available passengers, but they have adopted the policy of carrying maximum passengers on minimum number of buses. Most of the companies have not only inducted lesser than the required number of buses on the franchised routes, but also operate the same after long intervals to ensure maximum capacity utilization.

While the passengers complain about shortage of buses on all franchised routes, four of the six franchised bus service operators have failed to bring the agreed number of buses on their allotted routes.

The Daewoo City Bus has inducted only 70 airconditioned buses into service against a commitment of 300 buses. The company justifies the delay on the grounds that the government has delayed reimbursement of the cost of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway construction to it. The company is, however, making arrangements for assembly of its own buses for honouring the agreement.

The Monolite has brought only 12 double-deckers and 40 ordinary buses on routes against its plan to induct 175 buses. It is not operating the required number of buses on two routes allotted to it so far. A Transport Department officer found eight of 12 double-deckers and 16 of 40 ordinary buses parked at its Green Town terminal on Saturday. Chattha Brothers has pressed only 40 buses into service in Lahore against a plan for induction of 100 buses in Lahore and 50 in Multan. The company complains about delay in delivery of buses by the manufacturers.

The Baloch Transport has been able to ply 33 buses on routes against an induction plan of 80. It also blames the bus manufacturers for delay in implementation of the induction plan.

Only New Khan and Premier Bus Service have brought the required number of buses on the routes, but are unable to bring in the airconditioned buses like other four companies.