ATTOCK, Nov 8: Transporters seem to be in no mood to reduce fares, even after the Supreme Court judgment, OGRA notification and initiatives by the Punjab government and continue overcharging commuters.

The commuters have complained to the district administration but so far no relief has been provided.

A government employee Zafarur Rehman informed Dawn while travelling in a wagon  that transporters still charge the same fare from Attock to Qutba chowk and Kamra, despite the reduction of fares.

Another resident Malik Ayub said that general public is grateful to the authorities for reducing CNG prices, but so far the reduction had not had the trickle down effect to directly benefit commuters.

An important violation pointed out by Mr Arif , who travels from Attock to Hazro, is that according to transport authority rules, fares should be displayed inside transport vehicles but the rule so far is not implemented.

Perhaps one reason, the commuter presumed is that transport business is run by people with political influence and they seem to be resisting moves to reduce fares.

One commuter complained that there is no strict check of concerned government functionaries and the administration over open violations of transporters is quiet. “It is a clear negation of Supreme Court verdict that issued provision for relief to the public,” he said.

While the district administration including Road Transport Authority (RTA) so far has not taken any hard action against the violators.

It is evident by the fact that no case was registered against any transporter nor any vehicle was impounded.

Meanwhile sources in district administration disclosed that in reality ‘fare mechanism’ is totally out of control of the government and district administration, due to frequent fluctuation of CNG and petroleum prices.

As a result, the transporters not only charge fares at will but local administration ends up showing leniency towards the transporters.

The district coordination officer (DCO) Usman Ahmed Chaudhry admitted that public complaints were piling up and said that earlier the district administration had taken the transporters onboard for reduction of fares willingly as per notification.

But owing to frequent public complaints, he had formed a committee under the supervision of  additional deputy commissioner, who with the assistance of assistant commissioners of respective Tehsils and secretary RTA , would ensure fare reduction and revised  fare tables would be displayed in every public transport.