Vanishing trick with tickets

This year's prelude to Eid-ul-Azha is no exception, though it was expected to be something of that, in view of the government's stronger grip of the law and order situation as perceived in certain circles. People are standing in excruciating long queues for advance tickets, but only to be told in the end that all the tickets had been sold. The railway authorities had decided to sell not more than four tickets to one individual as a possible way of countering black marketing, but it seems the move has not paid any dividend. The least said about the buses and launches, the better. As it always happened in the past, the disappointed people have to buy passage in the black market paying a lot more than the normal fare.

It is evident that the passengers are cheated in a planned way by the bus and launch owners and the railway staff. Unfortunately, the authorities concerned have failed to find a way out of this mire. Let's face it: as the demand for tickets far exceeds the carrying capacity of different modes of transport, it creates an opportunity for foul-play by the devious elements. What is hard to comprehend though, is why the decision-makers fail to foresee the problem and arrange for an adequate number of trains, buses or launches to meet the contingency. We hear about some additional trains or steamers being introduced during festivals, but as the situation suggests the extra arrangements do little to lessen the passengers' woes.

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The government seems determined to maintain law and order before and during the holy festival. Deployment of Rab personnel in bus and launch terminals does indicate that law and order is high on the government's agenda. But the presence of the law enforcers is not enough for the people desperately looking for tickets. The relevant authorities should stringently enforce laws against black marketing of tickets while at the same time pressing more trains and buses into service keeping in view the huge rush of Eid-time passengers.