KARACHI: People who were eager to spend Eidul Fitr with their families in the up-country had to pay an additional Rs400-800 per person as inter-city transport owners cashed in on the last-minute rush.

On Monday evening, many people were seen demanding seat in the bus at any cost to reach their homes in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtun­khwa or Balochistan by today’s morning. Some even opted for roof-top travelling, which costs cheaper in most cases, to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

A random visit to Sohrab Goth area revealed that transporters for DG Khan route were demanding Rs400-500 per passenger more than the original fare of Rs1,200-1,300.

In the same area, a transporter was seen pocketing an additional Rs300-400 for Multan-bound passengers against the original fare of Rs1,100-1,200.

A transporter defended the hike in fares, saying, “We will have to come back empty from up-country that is why we are charging more money to cover up high diesel charges.”

Most passengers who had to pay extra money belonged to the labour class.

Due to long travelling, pas­­sengers usually prefer to get the seat instead of arguing or bargaining with the transporters on the last days be­­fore Eid. Capitalising on this tendency, the transporters place additional wooden seats between the aisles to adjust as many passengers as possible.

Moreover, transporters charge the same high rate from passengers, no matter they are going to the last destination or get off earlier.

It was also observed that there was no security checking of passengers and their baggage despite the deteriorating security situation of the country.

In other routes many transporters of Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, etc sought Rs800 more from passengers compared to normal fare of around Rs1,800.

The city and provincial administrations silently watched this overcharging by inter-city transporters, and just issued a statement one day before Eid claiming some achievements.

A press release said that a meeting was held between Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqi and provincial transport authorities officials to review the situation.

The meeting was informed that around 140 inter city route buses were challaned under a special checking conducted at Toll Plaza while a fine of Rs268,000 was imposed for overcharging.

Around Rs425,000 was recovered from the bus operators and handed over to the passengers who paid higher fares from the original rates.

Transporters said that bulk of customers had already gone in the last four to five days and by Iftar of Monday most of the operators would close down their operations.—ASK

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2014