SWABI, Jan 28: The coach transporters observed complete strike here on Saturday against the district administration’s refusal to allow increase in fares, resulting in sufferings for the commuters.

A large number of commuters were seen stranded in general bus stands in Swabi, Topi and Chota Lahor besides numerous other places.

The office-goers had to return to their homes due to lack of transport in the morning. “I could not get transport to reach the textile mills in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate, so I and my colleagues missed the day’s work,” said Usman Khan, a daily wage worker standing at Topi bust stand.

Other commuters complained that rickshaw, taxi and pick-up drivers were charging them double. However, the officials of district administration claimed that the people did not face any problem and the small pick-up vans were plying on all routes of the district. District transport association president Waqif Khan and its other leaders declared that the stalemate over the raise in fare persisted as their talks, held in Peshawar with the secretary transport Azmat Hanif Orakzai on Saturday, also failed.

However, sources said that the government and transporters agreed to continue negotiations to strike an acceptable formula.

The second round of parleys would be held on Monday in Peshawar and the leaders of transporters from both Mardan and Swabi would lead their delegations, expecting to meet with the transport minister and other officials to break the deadlock.

The transporters’ talks with the commissioner, Mardan, district coordination officer, and district police officer had already failed because the former rejected the new fare list.

When contacted, Waqif Khan told this correspondent that their strike would continue till conclusion of the negotiations and meeting of their demand. He also demanded that fines imposed on coach drivers for overcharging should be withdrawn.