THE Punjab government launched a speedo bus service in Lahore on March 20. However, for the last one-and-a-half months it has been observed that these buses are operating without any passengers or sometimes with one or two passengers throughout Lahore owing to a complex fare system.
Those responsible for devising the fare system failed to keep the ground realities in view where one-time travellers could have been issued tickets. Or coin-operated machines could have been installed instead of requirement of purchasing Rs200 card.
Even a one-time trip passenger is required to buy a card for Rs200. If a person wants to travel with his wife and two children, he is required to buy a Rs800 card.
In the given situation the government is paying Rs165 per km to the private sector bus operator for plying these empty speedo buses throughout Lahore while commuters are not in a position to use these buses.
Will anyone bother to look into the matter of the speedo bus service and rectify the fare system to stop further wastage of government funds whereby the prospective commuters are unable to board the buses owing to an ill-conceived fare system or we shall keep on watching these empty buses operating throughout Lahore.
