RAWALPINDI, May 31: The Punjab government on Thursday increased the fares of public transport by Rs2 to Rs15 on different routes of the city.

On the other hand, the transporters rejected the recent increase terming it very nominal. They demanded that the government should increase the fares keeping in view the prices of petroleum products and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) issued the notification raising the fares from Rs13 to Rs15 for four kilometres, Rs18 to Rs20 for 4-8 kilometres, Rs22 to Rs25 for 8-14 kilometres, Rs25 to Rs30 for 14-22 kilometres, Rs27 to Rs35 for 23-30 kilometres and Rs40 for more than 30 kilometres.

The revised fare structure means that the fare for travelling in public transport will go up from Rs12 to Rs15 for the shortest ride to Rs40 for the longest route – Saddar to Islamabad Secretariat.

While talking to Dawn, Twin Cities Public Transporters Association President Malik Sultan Awan said that the local transporters had rejected the recent raise in the fares as it was not suitable for them.

He said that the provincial government had double standards as it gave a greater increase in fares for Lahore transporters but for the twin cities’ transporters, it allowed only a little increase.

When contacted, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Syed Asad Kazmi said that the RTA would ensure the implementation of the new fares. He said that the new fare list was not issued by the RTA but the provincial government fixed new fares.