RAWALPINDI, June 20: Transporters are able to fleece the commuters in twin cities due to the defective fare lists prepared by Rawalpindi Transport Authority (RTA).

The lists for different routes of vans and mini-buses in the twin cities are full of contradictions in showing the distances between different stops and recommending fares. The rate at which fares are determined is not constant either.

To quote a few examples, people travelling to Zero Point from Saddar, Marir Chowk or the stops in between, have to pay Rs6 as per the fare list. The distances between Saddar and Zero Point and Marir Chowk and Zero Point are 11.07km and 8.07km respectively, whereas Rs6 is supposed to be charged for distances between 12 to 14km according to the very same fare list.

The distance between Zero Point and Fire-Brigade has been noted in the fare list as 4.98km, which is obviously unjustified. The mistake affects the fare structure for all destinations in the federal capital. Travellers from Rawalpindi because of this anomaly pay Re1 extra for all stops up to Polyclinic and Rs2 for onward destinations.

Several other mistakes seem to have been deliberately made to help the transporters overcharge.

The fare list for Route No 6 shows that the distance between Polyclinic and the F-6 stop is 0.94 km, while the same distance in the fare list for Route No 1 is shown as 0.04km.

On Route No 1, the distance between Super Market and Secretariat is 1.98 kms whereas it is 2.92km on Route No 6, although vans on both routes use the same road. This difference in distances obviously translates into differences in fares.

Even the rate at which these fares are determined is not constant. On Route No 6, the rate for distances between 22 to 24km is Rs8 while it is Rs9 on Route No 1. The Re1 difference exists in the recommended fares for all long-distance groups in the two lists.

In case, someone travels from the Airport to Aabpara on Route No 21, according to the fare list, he would cover a distance of 18km, but in case he takes this trip on a Route No 23 van that uses the same road, he would be paying for 17km.

The transport authority has left out several stops in the fare lists. Due to this lacuna, the passengers are charged for the next stop in the list on the pretext. The commuters travelling between Zero Point and Liaquat Bagh are asked to pay Rs6 on Route No 3, while vans of other routes plying between these stops charge Rs5. When asked for the difference in fares, the conductors of vans on Route No 3 said there was no mention of Liaquat Bagh in their list so they charged for Raja Bazaar the next stop.

Besides fleecing the customers under official patronage, many vans never complete their routes causing inconvenience to passengers.