PESHAWAR, Jan 24: Transporters in the NWFP took advantage of Eidul Azha and overcharged passengers travelling to and from cities and towns in the province, a number of passengers told Dawnon Monday.

"I paid Rs40 for travelling to Mardan from Peshawar to celebrate Eid. When I returned, the conductor charged Rs35 instead of the prescribed fare of Rs20," said Mohammad Zahid, a resident of Mardan.

According to him, the Eid proved a boom for transporters because they seized the opportunity and raised fares by almost 100 per cent and fleece passengers going home to celebrate the Eid.

"I complained to the traffic police at the bus stand about high fares, but they didn't take any action," he said, pointing out that on such occasions, conductors collected fares before moving the bus and if someone refused to enhanced fares, they asked them to get down the vehicle.

People going to and coming from long distance like Dir and Mingora paid Rs150 and Rs100 instead of the sanctioned fare of Rs73 and Rs50, respectively. The people visiting Chitral, Bajuar, Miran Shah and Buner etc., were the worst sufferers because they had to pay more than double of the fare fixed by the Provincial Transport Authority (PTA).

The PTA issued a chart of prescribed fares on May 7, 2004, and gave a formula to transporters to increase or decrease the fares in line with fluctuation in fuel prices. But the transporters often violate the rules and regulations and overcharge passengers without any cause.

The government on Dec 1,2004, slashed the price of diesel by 1.6 per cent or Rs1.93 per litre, but the transporters continue to fleece passengers. They argue that the prescribed fares cannot fulfil their requirements.

A transporter say: "They buy a vehicle for Rs1.6 million and pay Rs200-400 to police, Rs400 to driver and conductor daily. We would get nothing if we do not overcharge commuters." said a transport.

Had he invested such a huge amount in some other business, he would have been earning more, he added. The overcharging of passengers continues on the one pretext or the other, but the PTA and police have failed to check it. An official of the district transport authority said the system of transport had become more complicated after the devolution of power.