PMV fares in Madang to be increased

By DOROTHY MARK
BUS and PMV fares in Madang town will increase by the end of the month, the provincial transport office has announced.
Senior transport inspector Maskulan Gubag said PMV crews getting extra money from passengers since last week was illegal and they could be charged with stealing if they were taken to police.
“We will impose new fees at the end of this month and crews must not collect extra fees from their customers now. That’s stealing,” Gubag said.
He said there were surveys to be conducted for out-of-town routes like Giri Korkam road in Bogia and Sogeram Pasingkap road between Madang and Middle Ramu before new the fees became effective.
He said due to a circular by the police traffic office regarding the implementation of the amended Road Traffic Act, they were pressured into imposing new fares.
“We are still working on the adjustment of the fees and when we are finished, we will give out notices and that should be done by the end of this month,” Gubag said.
Madang police officer in-charge of the Traffic Department Sergeant Frank Makora said the Road Traffic Act was amended and ready to be enforced but they were studying the amendment so that they would be in the right position to apply the Act to traffic offenders. Makora said that did not include increased fares.