By Ali Raza
LAHORE: Niazi Express Lahore is a famous and busy bus stand in Lahore, offering services to multiple cities. However, ahead of Eid days, traveling commuters face issues due to traffic jams and poor administrative and security arrangements.
Niazi Express is not the only bus stand on Bund Road, Lahore. Scores of other bus stands, including Faisal Movers, Rahber Travels, Skyway Travels, Sania Travels, and others, are also situated on the same road.
Ahead of Eid days, a large number of people belonging to different areas throng to Niazi Bus Stand to reach their destinations. The fares of the buses vary according to the distance to the cities.
Due to the influx of passengers, no special measures were taken to protect the lives and property of the people.
Traffic police officials were well aware that, owing to the load of vehicles, traffic regulation would be a pressing issue. However, no elaborate measures were put in place by the Lahore traffic police, despite the fact that they have hundreds of traffic wardens.
Reports were received that pickpockets deprived people of their belongings, including cash, mobile phones, and bags.
Because of the passenger load, the tickets were in short supply, forcing people to book their seats online. However, they still had to fall in line at different bus stands to get their physical tickets despite booking online.
Sarmad Ali, who was waiting in line at the Faisal Movers bus stand, told Grandlines.pk that the management of the company should review their policy of issuing physical tickets despite getting the credentials of the passengers online.
He said the guy who was deployed to issue tickets at the online stand preferred to keep himself busy on mobile phone calls rather than clearing the long queue.
He said Niazi Ada Lahore is a place requiring special security and traffic arrangements along with shelter, seating, and water arrangements by the district administration and bus stand owners. Ironically, he said people have to buy water, and seating arrangements were also inadequate for the commuters.
Noreen Kausar, traveling from Lahore to Islamabad, said she had to wait in line to get her ticket booked through an online application. She said the number of people in line at the physical ticket issuance counter was low compared to the online stand.
She said everything is going online, but it seems it will take us years to become tech-savvy. Finding the ticket was an uphill task, and by the grace of God, I succeeded in achieving it.
The government has decreased fuel prices by Rs 10; however, bus stand owners charged fares according to their sweet will, she complained.
She said it was the prime responsibility of the provincial and district administrations to ensure relief for passengers following the new fuel prices. Only hollow slogans were raised by the people at the helm of affairs rather than any practical measures, she claimed.
