Carriers report 40-45% drop in Eid passenger numbers; railways suspend eight trains
RAWALPINDI:
Soaring inflation, increasing transport fares and soaring prices of sacrificial animals have forced a large number of residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to celebrate Eidul Azha this year in Rawalpindi and Islamabad instead of traveling to their native towns and villages.
As a result, passenger traffic at the twin cities’ 54 transport terminals has remained unusually low in the run-up to the Eid holiday, while bus stops lack their traditional festive crowds.
Haji Zahoor Arain, chief patron of the Mutahida Transport Federation, said the number of passengers during the Eidul Azha season fell by 40 to 45 percent this year.
He said that while entire families used to travel to their ancestral villages for Eid celebrations, this year only one or two family members were making the trip instead of the entire family.
Arain added that despite the announcement of long summer vacations in schools, there has been no notable increase in the number of passengers traveling to their hometowns.
Due to the drop in passenger numbers, Pakistan Railways also suspended the operation of eight trains, while railway stations started looking deserted.
“With Eidul Azha just two days away, it remains to be seen whether the number of passengers will increase or not, although the chances seem slim,” he remarked, adding that many people who intended to travel had already left this weekend as the public holidays would continue throughout the coming week.
He added that the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals had also seen a decline of 40 to 45 percent this year. According to transporters, the main reason for the sharp increase in freight rates is the sudden hike of Rs 50-70 per liter in petrol and diesel prices in the last few months.
They argued that the nominal Rs 5 reduction in fuel prices had little practical impact, as the cost of vehicle spare parts, tires and the salaries of drivers, conductors and helpers had all increased significantly.
Passengers complained that carriers were now charging full-seat fares even for children as young as 10, calling the practice exploitative. They also alleged that additional fees equivalent to the fare of a full seat were being charged for baggage.
Commuters said stagnant incomes and relentless inflation had severely strained household finances.
Meanwhile, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) secretary said surveillance teams would continue to inspect transport terminals up to Eidul Azha, adding that challans and fines had already been imposed on transporters involved in overloading and overloading passengers.
