PESHAWAR, Feb 27: Transporters have independently raised the fares  for almost all the destinations in the NWFP, citing rise in the prices of diesel as its cause.

The commuters, travelling to and from Mardan, have, now, to pay Rs25 instead of the permitted fare of Rs20, but the authorities are adamant to check the overcharging by the transporters, which had become a menace for the people travelling to different places in the province.

Especially, the government servants are the worst-hit, who had to frequently travel in the public transport to reach their native places on weekends.

Following an increase of 6.99 per cent or, if translated in local currency, Rs1.65 per litre, in the diesel prices by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), on Feb 15, the transporters have raised the fares, without any government notification in this regard, which is causing frequent brawls between the transporters and  the  commuters.

The transporters argue that it is impossible for them to meet their expenses without raising fares, in line with the fuel prices.

“I visit my home twice a week and it was beyond my income to pay the enhanced fares, because the government pays me an amount  as low as Rs75 for the whole month as conveyance allowance,” Mohammad Quresh, a health department employee and a resident of Mardan said.

According to him, the enhanced fare is charged from the people before they ride on the vehicles, which leaves them with no option but to pay the fare. Those who refuse to pay, are not offered seats, he claimed.

The traffic policemen seldom intervene. More often, they receive complaints from the travellers, but they don’t take any action against the transporters.

The long distance travellers, like the people travelling between  Dir and Mingora, have to pay Rs150 and Rs100 instead of the approved fares of Rs73 and Rs50, respectively.

Likewise, the people visiting remoter parts, like, Chitral, Bajuar, Miran Shah and Buner, have to pay almost double fare than what has been approved by the government.

The Provincial Transport Authority (PTA), had issued a fare- table on May 7, 2002, and had devised a formula under which the transporters were to increase or decrease the fares according to the fuel price variations. The transporters, however, were not complying with the formula and the passengers often complain of being overcharged.