Govt increases fare of Peoples Bus Service by 100pc

The fares for Peoples Bus Service have been jacked up from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 after an extension in route.

The National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), the federal organization that runs and maintains the Peoples Bus Service (PBS) in the province, was permitted by the Sindh government to hike the tariffs of a bus route in the city by 100%, it was revealed on Sunday.

The NRTC, the Sindh Mass Transit Authority, and engineers from a third party were all represented at the meeting of the fare adjustment committee for intercity routes when the decision to that effect was made.

According to them, the newly extended PBS route from Gulshan-i-Hadeed to Tower now has a maximum fare of Rs100 instead of Rs50 because to the increased distance of 58km.

The route starts at Allah Wali Chowrangi in Gulshan-i-Hadeed and ends at Tower. Along the way, it passes through Steel Town, Port Qasim Chowrangi, Manzil Petrol Pump, Quaidabad, the Malir neighborhood, Malir Halt, Colony Gate, Natha Khan Bridge, Drigh Road Station, PAF Base Faisal, Lal Kothi, Karsaz, Nursery, FTC, Metropole, Kara

Since the route was previously from Gulshan-i-Hadeed to Malir Cantt, they claimed the operator started charging Rs100 three days ago.

According to the sources, the operator raised the PBS fare since operating the buses on the route that extended up to 58 kilometers was no longer financially sustainable.

An official of the Sindh Mass Transit Authorities (SMTA), who requested to remain anonymous, claimed that the authority promptly contacted the operator after receiving complaints about the operator charging Rs100 for even shorter distances on the routes. The minimum fare for the shorter distance is no longer Rs. 50, he continued.

In the meantime, according to the sources, the NRTC has decided to raise the fares for all PBS lines starting in the following month due to increasing fuel expenses.