THE Bhiria Road Railway Station is situated in the nucleus of the thickly-populated outskirts of Naushahro Feroze district.

It bonds the National Highway with the core railroad of Pakistan. People from areas contiguous to Bhiria Road (including some small towns of Khairpur district) meet at the Bhiria Road station to catch trains.

Illicit surcharge is a perennial practice here. Clerks extract Rs10 to Rs50 extra from every ticket buyer, pertinent to the price of the ticket, disregarding his complaint.

Whenever a passenger complains about the extra charge in the price of the ticket, the railway clerks point to a handwritten note pasted above the ticketing window and notifying the price hike corresponding to the March 15 ordinance.

Interestingly, the renovated board hanging on a wall displays the tariff along with the date, same as that of the ordinance.

A ticket for an adult from Bhiria Road to Hyderabad costs Rs220, parallel to a fresh 20 per cent ramp in price as per the ordinance. Still the clerks sell the same ticket for Rs260.

Villagers (mostly uneducated ones) are easily fooled by the stalwart staff. Since people are unacquainted with the legal process and litigation, they, therefore, feel it is futile to complain about it.

However, well-to-do people visit the railway station, sit in the station master’s office and discuss the politico-socio-economic scene in Pakistan. The elite offer carrots to clerks and subsequently the staff have become habitual in receiving perks and privileges as a reward for providing reserved seats and berths on demand.

M. AMEEN QURESHI Naushero Feroze