KARACHI, May 6: The Pakistan Railways has increased charges on the excess luggage by ten times for the passengers of Thar Express, apparently to discourage illegal trade. The new schedule would be applicable from May 11.

Any passenger carrying more than 35kgs of luggage would now have to pay Rs20 per kg of the excess luggage.

PR officials told PPI that the decision of increasing the excess luggage charges was taken after it observed that traders were using the train service for transporting goods on commercial basis between Pakistan and India. Most of these traders appeared to be Indian citizens based in Gujrat traveled on this route frequently for trading in Indian goods and also some Pakistani products.

The traders maintain links with Railway officials, including reservation clerks, on both sides to ensure accommodation in Thar Express, the sources said.

According to officials, the excess luggage carried by each passengers had recorded a constant increase and the trend was causing problems for genuine passengers as much of these goods accompany the traders leaving a little space for other passengers and their essential belongings in the limited number of coaches of the train. The traders would not even agree to hand over their luggage to the Railway authorities to keep the same in the break wagons attached with the train for the purpose. Two wagons having a capacity of 2,500 kilograms each have been made available for the train service. Besides, the traders, in connivance with railway reservation officers, occupy seats of genuine passengers.

PR officials maintained that that the decision would not only discourage illegal trade but also help improve the service in terms of comfortable journey.

The federal government has already allowed the PR to enhance the number of seats in Thar Express from 345 to 610.

Deputy Superintendent Maqsoodun Nabi said: “We added two coaches and increased the number of seats up to 510 last Friday whereas 100 more seats would be available by June 8 with the replacement of the first class sleeper with the economy class.”—PPI