RAWALPINDI – The transporters of the twin cities have decided to launch wheel-jam strike after unsuccessful talks with the government officials for increase of public transport fares.
Earlier, transporters had given deadline of seven days for increase in public transport fares but the city district administration has rejected increase in fares.
Sources said that transporters union of the twin cities have decided to go for wheel jam strike to press local administration of both Islamabad and Rawalpindi for their demands. Moreover, serious differences were also reported among all the transport unions over the launching of strike as some were of the view that it should be delayed till up coming budget.
Earlier, Twin City Transport Association has warned the City district government that they would go on a wheel jam strike if the transport fares are not increased with in week. The Association has started contact camping to hold wheel jam strike against rejection of their demands regarding increase in transport fare by the Punjab government. The transporters, who are plying their transport in twin cities, have demanded of the government to increase the transport fares with respect to rising inflation.
Several meeting were held between the Association and the Commissioner, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in this regard however no headway could be made. The transporters warned the government that they would go on wheel jam strike, if the government failed to fulfil their demands within week.
Meanwhile, the government has adopted clear stance over the issue that the fare prices would not be increased. President Twin City Transport Association, Sultan Awan said that the association would announce the date of the strike soon, adding that all the meeting held between the association and the concerning authorities were failed to seek the solution of the issue.
Meanwhile, the illegal transport stops in the city and in cantonment area could cause security risk besides it also contributes to traffic jams, which are troublesome for the citizens.
According to a survey conducted by this agency around 200 illegal small and big transport stops are illegally operational in various parts of the city and Cantonment Board where no basic facility is provided to commuters.
Moreover, Regional Transport Authority Rawalpindi has turned a blind eye towards the situation as no action has been taken against illegal stands.
However, the city district administration has established nine bus stands for inter-city transport which also lack basic facilities i.e. lavatory, drinking water facility, sheds to protect the commuters from heat and rain which cause inconvenience and problems to them.
Sources said illegal bus stands are functional in connivance of the corrupt officials who receive monthlies while not a single penny goes to national exchequer.
The commuters demanded district and provincial government to initiate strict action against illegal bus stands which is a security risk besides affecting the flow of traffic.