PESHAWAR, Oct 30: The Regional Transport Authority on Tuesday considerably reduced the fare of public transport vehicles bound for Malakand, Mardan, Kohat and D.I. Khan divisions from Peshawar in light of the recent cut of Rs30 per kg in CNG price.

However, the fare of intra-city transport was not cut with RTA insisting it’s unwarranted.The new fare will come into force today (Wednesday).

RTA secretary Naseem Bacha told Dawn that fare of public transport had been decreased from Rs25 to Rs18 between Peshawar and Shabqadar, from Rs30 to Rs22 between Peshawar and Charsadda, from Rs62 to Rs44 between Peshawar and Harichand, from Rs54 to Rs38 between Peshawar and Tangi, from Rs168 to Rs126 between Peshawar and Tal, from Rs68 to Rs49 between Peshawar and Kohat, from Rs353 to Rs252 between Peshawar and DI Khan, from Rs262 to Rs188 between Peshawar and Upper Dir, from Rs186 to Rs133 between Peshawar and Timergara, from Rs61 to Rs43 between Peshawar and Mardan, from Rs181 to Rs129 between Peshawar and Mingora, from Rs144 to Rs103 between Peshawar and Pir Baba (via Mardan), from Rs36 to Rs25 between Peshawar and Nowshera, from Rs229 to Rs181 between Peshawar and Hangu and from Rs145 to Rs103 between Peshawar and Malakand.

He said RTA had no authority to revise fare between Peshawar and Hazara division because the latter was under the administrative control of the Provincial Transport Authority.

When asked, the RTA secretary ruled out the possibility of reduction in the fare of Peshawar’s intra-city transport.

“We didn’t increase fare for intra-city transport though CNG price increased many times over the last many months. Therefore, the said fare will remain the same,” he said.

Also in the day, provincial transport minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain issued a statement warning transporters against ignoring revised fare and said those found overcharging would be dealt with strictly.

When contacted, Peshawar Urban Transport Union president Khan Zaman Afridi said fare of intra-city transport vehicles was very reasonable and therefore, they won’t be reduced.

“The government fixed the minimum fare at Rs12 when CNG was sold at Rs50 per kg but and it was never increased though CNG price jumped to over Rs90 in the days ahead,” he said.

Mr Afridi warned that intra-city transporters would agitate if the transport department forced them to cut fare.

“The matter is negotiable,” he said.

Also in the day, this correspondent visited the general bus stand and found transporters overcharging and passengers complaining.

There are also complaints of taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers fleecing people in the city without let or hindrance.