KARACHI, March 27: The Sindh transport department has notified a rise in fares of public transport following a hike in the prices of petroleum products on March 15.

The existing and the proposed official rates are as follows:

Urban route description: Buses; existing fare Rs6 up to 5km now fixed at Rs8, Rs7 up to 10km at Rs9, Rs8 up to 15km at Rs10, Rs8.50 up to 20km at Rs10.50, Rs8.50 up to 25km at Rs10.50 and Rs8.50 above 30km at Rs10.50. Students will be charged 50 per cent of the normal fares in these vehicles.

Mini-buses: Existing fare Rs7 up to 5km now fixed at Rs9, Rs8 up to 10km at Rs10, Rs9 up to 15km at Rs11, Rs9 up to 20km at Rs11, Rs9 up to 25km at Rs11 and Rs9 above 30km at Rs11.

Coaches: Existing fare Rs11 up to 10km has been increased to Rs13 and Rs14 for above 30kms.

Inter-city routes: Existing fares of Metalled Road Buses (50 and above seats) Ps46 per km increased to Ps56 per km; Katcha Road Buses fixed at Ps58 per km; fares of air-conditioned coaches increased to Rs1.12 per km; mini-buses Metalled Road (26-29 seats) from Rs46 per km to Rs56 per km; mini-buses (13-18) Rs46 per km to Rs56 per km, stage-cum-public carrier (Deserts) from Rs62 per km to Rs72 per km and the fares of deluxe buses with 2x2 seating capacity has been fixed at Rs79 per km.

Urban routes: KPTS buses; existing fare of Rs8 up to 10km has been increased to Rs10, Rs11 up to 20km to Rs13, Rs13 up to 25km to Rs15, Rs14 up to 30km to Rs16 and Rs16 above 30km to Rs18.

UTS (non AC) buses: Existing fares of Rs8 up to 10kms has been increased to Rs10, Rs12 from 11 to 20 km to Rs14, Rs15 from 21 to 30km to Rs17 and Rs18 above 30km to Rs20.

UTS (AC) buses: Existing fares of Rs11 up to 10km has been increased to Rs13, Rs16 from 11 to 20km to Rs18, Rs20 from 21 to 30km to Rs22 and Rs25 above 30km to Rs27.

The fares of black/ yellow cabs of up to 800CC have been increased to Rs9 per kilometre, for vehicles above 800CC the rates have been fixed at Rs11 per km and Rs8 per kilometre for rickshaws.

Meanwhile, the Sindh caretaker Minister for Transport, Arif Ali Abbasi, said that the fares of the public transport had been increased due to the recent hikes in the prices of POL products and the decision had been taken after detailed consultation with various transport organisations.

In a statement issued here, he described the increase in fares conditional and linked with the fluctuation in fuel prices in the international market.

Mr Abbasi said the transporters had also agreed to introduce environment-friendly vehicles and to switch over to CNG.

The transporters, he said, had also agreed to remove pressure horns and extra glasses from their vehicles.

The minister said that traffic police had been directed to take action against male passengers travelling in compartments reserved for women passengers besides ensuring removal of all kinds of hanging bumpers and tape recorders from every public transport vehicle.—PPI/APP