RAWALPINDI: Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday reduced the fares of public transport by 6 per cent.

The stop-to-stop fare has been reduced from Rs15 to Rs14 and that to the end of the route from Rs37 to Rs35.

RTA Secretary Awais Manzoor Tarar told Dawn that the fares had been reduced by 6 per cent in the local public transport.

In reply to a question, he admitted that there were reports about overcharging as some transporters were still charging Rs40 per passenger on the route against the official fare of Rs37.

He said the RTA on Thursday issued challans to over 27 public transporters and impounded seven vehicles. The RTA asked the contractors of bus stops to install banners inscribed with the new and old fares on prominent places. On the other hand, the Punjab government asked the Special Branch of the police to monitor whether or not the new fares were being implemented by the public transporters.

Punjab Minister for Food Bilal Yasin has also been assigned the task to hold video conferences to review the situation, so that effect of the reduction in petroleum prices could trickle down to the citizens. — A Reporter