GUJAR KHAN Jan 1: Commuters on Sunday had to bear the brunt of CNG station owners’ strike as transporters had a field day of fleecing public.

In the absence of any mechanism of controlling overcharging, the commuters traveling on intercity routes faced great inconvenience. They remained stranded at the bus stops as transporters either kept their vehicles off the road to create artificial shortage or charged extra fare in the name of CNG closure.

Vans were charging up to Rs100 per passenger from Gujar Khan to Rawalpindi instead of Rs50 – the normal fare.

Similarly the fare for small distances like Mandra and Rawat from Gujar Khan was also increased up to 30 and 50 rupees respectively.

The transporters on seeing stranded public denied them service up to these midway destinations and they were forced to pay for Rawalpindi.

On the other hand the helpless public was seen cursing the rulers for their apathy in multiplying the commoners’ financial woes.

Mumtaz Ali a stranded passenger along with his family told Dawn that he had to attend his office on Monday while his children were bound to go to their schools in Rawalpindi but he was unable to pay extra fare for transporting his family as his monthly budget would be disturbed.

A similar panic was seen among commuters in Taxila as all CNG stations in the city remained closed. Roads in different areas of the city presented a deserted look due to the absence of public transport.

Inayatullah, a commuter standing at Taxila bus stop, told Dawn that he was standing there for the last two hours waiting for a van but to no avail.

The stranded commuters were forced to wait at the bus stops for hours till dusk and they were making desperate efforts to climb the rooftops of buses to reach their destinations braving a freezing cold.

CNG stations in Chakwal also remained closed due to indefinite strike affecting the commuters.

Nearly 50 per cent public transport vehicles were plying on the roads.

“Transporters and commuters faced a tough day due to the closure of CNG,” said Haji Ashiq Hussain, the manager of a local wagon stand.

He warned of dire consequences if government failed to resolve the issue.

On the other hand people expressed their anger over government’s lack of concern.