KOHAT, March 1: Taxi drivers and other transporters here have been charging exorbitant fares on local routes due to no check from the relevant authorities who have not convened a meeting to fix fare rates during last three years.

The hike in petroleum prices every month has become a regular feature while the district transport authority failed to review the situation. Taking benefit of the situation the taxi drivers have been charging passengers at will without fear of any action.

The cabbies are charging passengers Rs150 from city area to the Kohat Development Authority (KDA) town, which is hardly a two-kilometre distance. Passengers are seen arguing with the drivers that only Rs30 gas is consumed for the same distance, but because of no official check they have to pay according to the demand.

The taxi drivers have themselves fixed fares in the city. They charge Rs100 from the city area to the KDA town and additional Rs50 if one wanted to go to sectors further deep. In the night they usually charge double fare compared to the day time rates because they know that the passengers have no other choice.

District coordination officer Shahidullah Khan, who chaired meeting for launching new polio campaign here on Thursday, told this correspondent that fixing fares for taxi cabs was the domain of Kohat commissioner.

An official of the Regional Transport Authority said that it was the responsibility of the district administration to take action against taxi drivers indulging in overcharging. He said that the DCO was also responsible for implementing the fares on local transport routes because the RTA only fixed the fares for inter-district transport in the province. —Correspondent