Lahore/ Islamabad:
When Eid Travel Rush reaches its peak, passengers all over the country were between a cliff and a tough place on Saturday – and struggling to secure tickets while being fleeced by carriers hiking.
Despite special Eid trains and government crashes, workers and students complained back to their hometowns that carriers made a quick buck by charging exorbitant prices.
Many were left to crawl for seats at the last minute, with some even forced to pay through the nose for their journey home.
A day after the last Eid special train left from Karachi Cantt to Lahore, travelers – especially workers and students – complained that carriers charged more than the fixed prices. Many said they had no choice but to pay extra to reach their hometowns in time for the festivities.
Pakistan Railways (PR) had announced a 20% discount on ticket prices for the first three days of Eid, but passengers pointed out that the concession did not apply to the five special trains that operated in the days that led to the holidays, leaving them without real relief.
Due to high prices on the highway and the GT road, many travelers preferred, while some had no choice but to travel via buses.
Lahore Railway Station saw an increase in passengers, especially after offices closed to Eid.
To meet the increased demand, per extra coaches added to several trains, including three extra bogies – an AC and two sleeping coaches – to routes to Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Multan.
Passengers, however, argued that ticket reductions that started after Eid was of little benefit to those who traveled in advance.
“Most people go to their hometowns before Eid and return a few days later, so the discount should have covered these days too,” a commuter said.
Many urged the railways to improve service quality and ensure punctuality instead of only relying on reduction of ticket prices.
In order to monitor offenses of ticket prices, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) intensified its crash against over -charging carriers, with special troops deployed at major bus terminals, including Faizabad, Mandi Mother, Karachi Company and 26 number Chungi.
A spokesman for ITP said officers controlled ticket lists, fines fines for offenders and refund passengers who had been over -charged. Citizens were invited to report violations of ticket prices to the ITP aid line in 1915.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered a strict crash of carriers charging for large prices from passengers under EID, and instructing authorities to ensure compliance with official ticket prices in all districts.
CM Maryam was chairman of a meeting on transport management and instructed Deputy Commissioners to carefully monitor the compliance with ticket prices and prevent over -charging.
She said official ticket price lists must be displayed prominently at all bus terminals to prevent the utilization of homemade travelers, especially low -income passengers.
In addition to ticket price regulation, the minister of chief also ordered purity drives on bus stands, which ensured proper seating and functional fans in waiting areas.
