Transport fare reduced after decrease in POL prices

KARACHI: Following the successful negotiations between government and transporters, held on the directive of Sindh Transport Minister Muhammad Adil Siddiqui on Saturday, the authorities concerned carried out a reduction of one rupee in each stage of the fares of buses, minibuses and coaches.

The downward revision was carried out in the light of reduction in the petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) prices, recently made by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee. "We have fulfilled our obligation by reducing transport fares and would continue taking such steps in the larger interests of the citizens," said Adil Siddiqui.

The minister advised the commuters to lodge complaint either at Help Line (915) or his office at phone no 9211980 if the transport workers demanded higher fares than the revised structure.

Additional Transport Secretary Kaleem Makki presided over the joint meeting of the government and transporters held on Saturday. President Karachi Transport Ittahad, Syed Irshad Husain Shah Bukhari; Chairman Karachi Transport Federation, Saleem Khan Bangash; representative of National Transport Ittahad, Azam Khan Mahsood, delegate of inter-city transport body Haji Muhammad Iqbal and others attended the meeting.

Talking to The News, Bukhari said that though there was no justification to reduce transport fares, the transporters agreed to withdraw the previous upward revision made on February 27 in view of their good relations with the minister.

He said, "However, the transporters would demand increase in fares immediately after any upward revision in the POL prices."

In case the government further decreases the POL prices, he said, no downward revision in the transport fares would be made unless the diesel price came to Rs17.53 per litre from the existing Rs21.38 per litre.

The fare structures, re-fixed on April 19 with immediate effect is as follows:

Urban Routes Existing Rates Revised

BUSES
Upto 5km Rs5.00 Rs4.00
From 5km to 10km Rs6.00 Rs5.00
From 10km to 15km Rs7.00 Rs6.00
From 15km to 20km Rs7.50 Rs6.50
From 20km to 25km Rs7.50 Rs6.50
Above 30km Rs7.50 Rs6.50

The students would continue enjoying a 50 per cent concession in the fares of the buses. While as practised in the past, they would not be given any concession in the fares of minibuses and coaches.

Urban Routes Existing Rates Revised

Minibuses
Upto 5km Rs6.00 Rs5.00
From 5km to 10km Rs7.00 Rs6.00
From 10km to 15km Rs8.00 Rs7.00
From 15km to 20km Rs8.00 Rs7.00
From 20km to 25km Rs8.00 Rs7.00
Above 30km Rs8.00 Rs7.00

Coaches
Upto 10km Rs10.00 Rs9.00
From 5km to 10km Rs11.00 Rs10.00

The government also carried out a downward revision in the fares of inter-city transport vehicles, which is as follows.

For 50 and above seats:
Metalled road buses 42ps per km 37ps per km
Katcha road buses 44ps per km 39ps per km
AC Coaches 79ps per km 74ps per km

Metalled roads

Minibuses
(26-29 seats) 42ps per km 37ps per km

Minibuses
(13-18 seats) 42ps per km 37ps per km

SCP Carriers
(Desert) 58ps per km 53ps per km

Deluxe Buses
(2x2 seats) 60.5ps per km 55.5ps per km