Anisul Islam Noor :
Although the new fare of CNG-run auto-rickshaw came into effect in Dhaka city from Sunday, many three-wheelers have been staying off the streets, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
“A few auto-rickshaws were seen on the city streets since morning as some drivers are yet to set the revised meters in their vehicles,” said Mozammel Haque, Secretary General of Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association.
The people in different areas of the city complained that many CNG drivers have denied going on meters, they charged additional fare.
One CNG driver Abdur Rashid informed this reporter in Farmgate area at noon yesterday that the owners are taking Tk 1,300 as daily deposit against each CNG.
The drivers will have to pay Tk 900 on daily basis to the owners as deposit money while the previous rate was Tk 600.
“We have to break meter’s fare if the owner would take additional money as daily deposit,” he said.
At least six mobile courts have been set up at different key points in the capital to monitor whether the drivers are charging extra fare.
The mobile courts of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) are also monitoring the fitness of the three-wheelers and check the valid documents of the vehicles, said an official of the BRTA.
From Sunday, the auto-rickshaws must have a meter system to ply on the roads according to the government instruction.a
According to the enhanced fare, commuters will have to pay Tk 12 for each kilometer and Tk 2 per minute as the waiting charge.
In September, the government hiked the minimum fare to Tk 40. Previously, the rate was Tk 25 for the first two kilometers and Tk 7.64 for the next. Waiting charge was Tk 1.40 per minute.
President of CNG Auto Rickshaw Malik Samity Barkat Ullah said, owners and workers are all happy in daily deposit and meter fix up by the Ministry.
Secretary of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridge MAN Siddiq said, the government will do everything for implementing the present meter rate and owner deposit amount of Tk 900.
He suggested people to complain to BRTA if the CNG drivers are not agreed to go on meter charge. The Number of BRTA for complains- 9113133, 8154701, 9115544 and 9007574 or www.brta.gov.bd.
The BRTA has added 11200 meters as per newly fix up meter rate since last Saturday.
Although the new fare of CNG-run auto-rickshaw came into effect in Dhaka city from Sunday, many three-wheelers have been staying off the streets, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
“A few auto-rickshaws were seen on the city streets since morning as some drivers are yet to set the revised meters in their vehicles,” said Mozammel Haque, Secretary General of Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association.
The people in different areas of the city complained that many CNG drivers have denied going on meters, they charged additional fare.
One CNG driver Abdur Rashid informed this reporter in Farmgate area at noon yesterday that the owners are taking Tk 1,300 as daily deposit against each CNG.
The drivers will have to pay Tk 900 on daily basis to the owners as deposit money while the previous rate was Tk 600.
“We have to break meter’s fare if the owner would take additional money as daily deposit,” he said.
At least six mobile courts have been set up at different key points in the capital to monitor whether the drivers are charging extra fare.
The mobile courts of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) are also monitoring the fitness of the three-wheelers and check the valid documents of the vehicles, said an official of the BRTA.
From Sunday, the auto-rickshaws must have a meter system to ply on the roads according to the government instruction.a
According to the enhanced fare, commuters will have to pay Tk 12 for each kilometer and Tk 2 per minute as the waiting charge.
In September, the government hiked the minimum fare to Tk 40. Previously, the rate was Tk 25 for the first two kilometers and Tk 7.64 for the next. Waiting charge was Tk 1.40 per minute.
President of CNG Auto Rickshaw Malik Samity Barkat Ullah said, owners and workers are all happy in daily deposit and meter fix up by the Ministry.
Secretary of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridge MAN Siddiq said, the government will do everything for implementing the present meter rate and owner deposit amount of Tk 900.
He suggested people to complain to BRTA if the CNG drivers are not agreed to go on meter charge. The Number of BRTA for complains- 9113133, 8154701, 9115544 and 9007574 or www.brta.gov.bd.
The BRTA has added 11200 meters as per newly fix up meter rate since last Saturday.
