SWABI - Students of various educational institutions staged a protest demonstration against public transporters for raising fares up to 100 per cent due to closure of CNG filling stations on Tuesday. The students of the numerous college gathered in Tehsil Topi general bus stand where the flying coach transporters demanded 100 per cent increased fares before entering their vehicle and the students told them that instead of Rs 15 fare between Swabi and Topi they should take Rs 20 but Rs 30 instead of Rs 15 was an unjust demand and they opposed it.
When the transporters were not ready they blocked the Swabi-Topi road for all kind of traffic, setting on fire the tyres while chanting slogans against the district administration and transporters.
Later they opened the road when the local police officers ensured them but despite that the transporters did not give up their habit. It has been learnt that there was Rs 150 fare from Swabi general bus stand to Rawalpindi but the transporters were taking Rs 300 and same was the story of the all other routes in the district.
Despite that a single vehicle has not been challaned by the police for continued overcharging and the people had suffered badly during the last two days and if the issue of CNG filling station protest was not resolved the people would suffer more.
When asked a flying coach driver told this correspondent that on Monday he saved Rs 5000 due to overcharging the commuters and it was an opportunity for them to earn more. The people said that the transporters have exploited their compulsions and the under the pretext of closure of the CNG.