FAISALABAD: Students of a public college and drivers of a private bus company thrashed each other on Samundri Road on Friday when students tried to get on a bus.

Both sides used clubs and fists against each other.

Such scuffles often erupt in the city because of the shortage of the public transport.

The private company in question was launched back in the early 2000s but it withdrew buses within years. The minibuses of the company would provide relief to the people in the city.

Now a few roads had such minivans and motorcycle rickshaws as the traffic police had restricted their entry to some roads like Jail Road, Club Road and Kutchery Road.

Everybody, however, does not like to get on motorcycle rickshaws.

Noman Asif, a hairdresser, said traveling on motorcycle rickshaw was a risky business because they overturned at turns or due to overload.

Students, bus drivers clash

He said traffic police officials were also aware of the hazards of motorcycle rickshaws but they were unable to ensure their closure because the three-wheelers were the only transport for the poor people.

Motorcycle rickshaw drivers also complain about the harsh behaviour of the traffic wardens to them.

Scores of times, motorcycle rickshaw drivers have staged demonstrations against traffic wardens against fines on them, which they say, only to achieve their challan targets.

Warden Ali said they were strict with the motorcycle rickshaw drivers because they were not aware of traffic rules and would often choke the traffic.

He said the wardens did not target rickshaws only to achieve targets of challan.

Amjad Zahid, a student of a private institution, told Dawn that students had to travel daily on the rooftop of buses as there was a lack of buses in the district. He demanded a mass transit for the denizens.

He said travelling on the rooftops of buses was a risky adventure and several students had suffered injuries while getting on the moving buses.

A few months ago, ride sharing Apps have started their service in the city. People said the service was efficient but expensive as compared to the public transport.

Akram Ali, a property dealer, said the service was available to the people of city, whereas there was no relief for rural areas. He said one could see packed vehicles on rural roads.

Traveling in packed buses is a nightmare for women. Nusrat Bibi, of Usman Ghani Town, said special compartments for women could be imagined when the city would have ample vehicles. She said currently only a few buses had compartments for the women.

She said scores of working women had to spend extra money on traveling from work to home.

The availability of public transport will help working women improve their living standard like spending on the education, food and wardrobes of their children.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2018