Private transporters have taken undue advantage of the unavailability of CNG by increasing fares on local routes without a notification.
These transporters have also been violating their designated routes to mint extra money from passengers have to travel in mini-vans.
Commuters who travel from Rawalpindi to the secretariat have to change vehicles three times because only passengers at the nearest stop are allowed to board vehicles. Long queues can also be seen at bus stops during office hours.
Asma, a passenger waiting for a van at Aabpara bus stop, said only front seats are available for females so they have to wait longer to get seats.
Mukhtar Hussain, a passenger, said passengers are crammed into vans that often dropped them half way to work which further increases their problems.
Transporters have been overcharging at will due to the non-availability of CNG. Rehmat Ali, public transport driver said, “We have tried to keep local transportation fare as low as possible, but it has become impossible as Petrol is being sold at exorbitant rates.”
