Ctg passengers also see overcharging on buses

Altercations and scuffles between passengers and transport workers in buses running on different routes in Chittagong city marked the first day the "new fare rate" set by the government became effective.

Passengers alleged that transport workers took advantage of the government's decision and charged higher, while transport workers claimed that they charged fares fixed by the authorities.

After increasing the price of CNG, the government, on September 10, decided to increase the fare of CNG-run buses and minibuses by 10 paisa per kilometre. As per the decision, the fare of buses will be Tk 1.70 for every kilometre travelled after three kilometres, and for minibuses Tk 1.60. The minimum fare of buses and minibuses will be Tk 7 and Tk 5 respectively. Although the new rate was to be effective from October 1, transport owners in Chittagong city decided to implement it from yesterday.

While travelling on different routes in the city yesterday, this correspondent found transport workers charging Tk 2 to Tk 3 more than the fixed rate. Moreover, no chart showing the fixed rate of fares was seen.

A passenger, Abu Sayeed Faruquee, said he had to pay Tk 8 for travelling from Bahaddarhat to Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge, a distance of four kilometres. Previously, the fare was Tk 6, he said.

According to the new rate set by the government, the fare should have been Tk 6.40.

Minhaz Uddin Mahmud, another passenger, said he used pay Tk 6 for travelling between his office at Agrabad and his residence at Wasa Intersection, but he had to pay Tk 8 yesterday.

He said many passengers were arguing with the conductor and demanded that he show the chart of fares but he refused.

Khorshed Alam, a conductor of a city bus, said they did not get any chart of fares yet, but transport leaders asked them to charge Tk 1 more for short distances and Tk 2 more for long distances and that the minimum  fare would be Tk 5.

Tarun Dasgupta, general secretary of City Bus-Minibus Owners' Association, said most of the workers are illiterate, so many of them did not understand the new fare rates.   

He claimed they already provided charts to the workers.

Contacted, Tahmina Takia, senior assistant commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (Traffic, south zone), said they would take necessary action anyone who is charging more than the rate fixed by the government.