LAHORE: As the recent massive hikes in fuel prices have adversely hit the routine life of the middle and lower-middle class, over 100,000 people, who were earlier commuting in their own cars on various intra-city routes have switched to the metro trains, the metrobuses and the feeder bus services in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.

Since the number of such passengers switched to other private or public sector intra-city bus/van services is separate, those using their own transport for travelling out of the cities like Lahore have also switched to inter-city bus services while those already using such transport facilities frequently have reduced their travelling due to massive increase in the fares, Dawn has learnt.

“While observing the passengers ratio, we have found an addition of around 75,000 passengers daily into our intra-city transport systems – Orange Line Metro Train (Ali Town-Dera Gujran), metrobus (Shahdara-Gajjumata) and the Speedo buses plying on feeder routes in Lahore. Similarly, around 20,000 passengers have also switched to the metrobus system in Rawalpindi,” a senior official of the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) says while speaking to Dawn.

‘Over 100,000 people in three big cities of Punjab switch to public transport’

“An increase of around 7,000 passengers has also been witnessed in Multan’s metrobus system,” he says, showing that people are shifting fast to public transport in Multan too from personal vehicles.

It may be mentioned that the Punjab Masstransit Authority has already reached a consensus to introduce distance-based fares instead of a flat one (subsidised fare of Rs40) for those travelling in the Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore. The authority, during the PTI government’s tenure, had worked out a plan, keeping in view the increasing electricity cost. The new government (of the PML-N) has asked the masstransit authority to finalise the earlier proposal.

“We have sent a summary to the Punjab Cabinet and sought its approval for introducing a distance-based fare instead of the flat Rs40 per passenger. The minimum fare suggested is Rs20 for travelling in the Orange Line Metro Train. But the fares (Rs30 and Rs15) being charged in metro or Speedo buses would remain the same till further orders,” the official explains.

On the other hand, a number of passengers who were earlier using their own transport for commuting have switched to intra-city public transport to reach their offices or places of work. Those using the inter-city public transport frequently have already squeezed their travel due to a big increase in the fares.

“We have increased fares by 35pc whereas the fuel prices surged by 55pc. This has affected the middle and lower-middle classes badly as those using their own cars to travel have started travelling by buses. Moreover, those using the inter-city public or private transport have squeezed their traveling as they (mostly the salaried class) have stopped going back to their homes weekly–perhaps they have planned to go home fortnightly or monthly,” a senior executive of a well-known transport company at Thokar Niaz Baig says.

According to an employee of a private bus company near Babu Sabu, the number of passengers has also increased in the non-AC bus service.

“Most of the passengers who were earlier using the AC bus services have now switched to non-AC bus service due to a raise in the fares,” he says.

He has urged the government to increase the amount of the subsidy from Rs2,000 to Rs5,000 for those earning less than Rs40,000 per month so that the poor people could manage their budget in the prevailing critical situation.

The fuel prices hike has also affected businesses at the rest and service areas on the motorways.

“You can see the few vehicles, which were once in numbers, parked here despite the fact it is the weekend. It means the number of passengers have decreased, reducing our sales to 30pc,” bemoans a tuck-shop salesman at Sukhekhi service area near Pindi Bhattian.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2022