Peshawar High Court (PHC) has summoned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to seek an explanation for numerous issues faced by the public due to the service.
Reportedly, a panel comprised of Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Nasir Mahfooz requested the presence of CEO Peshawar BRT and Director General (DG) Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) for the hearing of the case.
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The panel had a few questions for the BRT representatives present at the trial. In one of the questions, the panel sought an explanation for parking the buses under an open sky, to which, the representative stated that the buses are designed such that they can withstand the harsh and varying weather.
In reply to which, Justice Rashid remarked:
“So you will keep the buses parked in the open sky if they are resistant to the weather’s impact? Are these buses gifted to you or purchased with public tax money?” Justice Rashid also expressed his grievance regarding the buses breaking down repeatedly after every few days due to some fault. “Not every person has their own vehicle,” Justice said while commenting on the issue.
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A rickshaw driver had filed a petition in the PHC against the ban on rickshaws and taxis running along the route, whereafter, PHC took action against TransPeshawar. The lawyer for the petitioner highlighted that the government issued a notification banning rickshaws and cabs from traversing along the main BRT route.
He added that these rickshaws or cabs are mostly used by patients, elderly people, and students, which implies that banning them on the route that crosses through the main avenue of the provincial capital would cause severe trouble for the commuters. He also said that this would also take the earning opportunity away from numerous rickshaw and taxi drivers in the city.
