KHAR: The political administration of Bajaur Agency has arrested about 40 drivers of public transport vehicles, including cabs, for overcharging commuters on Peshawar-Bajaur route.

An official said on Wednesday that action against the transporters, most of them taxi drivers, was taken following public complaints. He said that the action was launched after the inquiry committee found the transporters guilty of violating the official price list for PeshawarBajaur route.

He said that the committee comprising officials of the local administration and Levies and representatives of local transporters observed that the transporters were charging between Rs800 and Rs1,100 from the passengers who travelled from Peshawar to Khar instead of the official fare of Rs480.

The official said that most of the transporterswere carrying five passengers in a car instead of four. He said that at least 40 drivers had been arrested while several vehicles, most of them cars, were impounded during the three-day campaign.

Answering a question, he said that some transporters had been freed on ball. He said that action against the transporters would continue and the administration would ensure that they followed the official fare list for the PeshawarBajaur route.

Several people who travelled to Bajaur from Peshawar in private cars confirmed increase in charges. They said that transporters were still charging around Rs1,000 per passenger.

Justifying increase in fares, the transporters said that usually the number of passengers from Bajaur to Peshawar decreased during Ramazan and they had to increase the fare to meet their expenses. They said that most of vehicles depended only on the Peshawar-Bajaur route for earning livelihood.