RAWALPINDI, Aug 15: Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has increased fare of public transport on different routes of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

However, the transporters rejected the increase and said it was no more than peanuts and the government should increase more as the petroleum prices reached the same price which stood during May 2012.

The RTA raised the fares from Rs14 per person for 4km, Rs19 to Rs20 for 4-8km, Rs24 for 8-14km, Rs29 for 14-22km, Rs35 for 23-30km and Rs38 for more than 30km.

The revised fare structure means that the fare for travelling in public transport will go up from Re1 to Rs2 person per stop.

Talking to Dawn, Twin Cities Public Transporters Association President Malik Sultan Awan said the local transporters had rejected the recent raise in fares as it was not suitable for them, adding that transporters would start agitation after Eid. He also added that the government issued the notification on August 2 but delivered it to transporters on Wednesday. He said for Ramazan, the transporters would not start agitation against the government.

When contacted, RTA Secretary Syed Asad Kazmi said the notification to increase the fares had been handed over to transporters soon after its issuance. He said that the fares had been revised due to new petroleum prices.

He said the RTA formed teams to check the implementation of new fares.

He said the RTA was also checking fares for intercity routes, especially during Eid holidays.—A Reporter