KP Govt Plans To Raise Transport Force To Counter Fare's Increase, Pollution Issues

The Khyber Pakthunkhwa government has planned to raise transport force to counter self-increased fare by transporters besides environmental, smoke emissions and noise polluting vehicles in the province.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :The Khyber Pakthunkhwa government has planned to raise transport force to counter self-increased fare by transporters besides environmental, smoke emissions and noise polluting vehicles in the province.

"Work on transport force raising is an advanced stage that would be implemented soon after completion of all modalities," a senior official in KP Transport Department told APP on Monday.

The force will counter self-increased fare by the transporters at local, regional and inter-provincial routes besides countering noise and environmental pollution, which are harmful for mental and physiological health of people.

The prime mandate of the force would be checking of vehicles' fitness before allowing its entrance on roads and vehicles prior of 1993 registrations would be banned.

The registration of vehicles were divided in A, B,C and M categories as under M category vehicles prior of 2008 model would not be allowed to come on Motorways whereas in category A vehicles prior of 2003 registration would also be banned on GT Road after it failed to pass the fitness test.

Similarly, in categories B and C vehicles prior of 1998 model and 2003 model's registrations respectively would be banned on GT Roads if they failed to pass prescribed fitness test to be conducted by Vehicles Emissions Testing Stations (VETS).

Around nine VETS under aegis of Transport Department are being providing services across the province and issue fitness certificate after examining conditions of vehicles.

The Transport Department has decided to impose fines against all smoke emitting vehicles spreading pollutions and over charging passengers against government's prescribed fare list.

The force will be given proper training about traffic laws, rules and regulations and would be fully equipped like Motorways, Excise and Taxation Departments' force.

To check fitness of passengers' vehicles, strength of motors vehicles examiners would be increased at districts level and at least four examiners would be deployed in all districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

Mobile Wings Stations of Transport Department would soon be established with a mandate to check overloading and fare related issues on GT Road and Motorways and all vehicles carrying heavy load would be banned on national highways and motorways to prevent its damage and increase its durability.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and Provincial Transport Authority (PTA) field staff with assistance of traffic police and district administrations are randomly checking fares charged by passengers vehicles and conditions of buses, wagons and flying coaches and heavy fines are being imposed in case of violations of Govt orders.

Fitness certificate to vehicles are being issued for one year by VETS and after expire of this period its re-checking and passing of fitness tests was mandatory.

During last one month, the official said 1062 vehicles were challaned for overcharging, overloading of passengers against whom Rs1.158 million fine were imposed.

The official said Citizen Portal at central and provincial levels were setup and peoples' can register their complaints so that prompt actions could be taken on basis of solid information against violators.