Passengers waited long at different stoppages in the capital to avail public transports amid a drive against 'special service' buses Sunday, which caused scarcity of vehicles. The photo was taken from Kakoli area. — FE Photo by KAZ Sumon
Passengers are still forced to pay fares at previously-increased rates though the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) launched a drive on Sunday to stop the so-called 'special' seating service buses in the city.
The BRTA began the drive to stop private sector operators from running buses for the illegal seating service, special service or gate lock service.
BRTA personnel were seen conducting the drive in the capital's Asad Gate, Agargaon, Tejgaon, Engineers' Institution, Jatrabari and airport areas to stop operating seating service buses.
While visiting some of the key city routes it was found that such buses were taking passengers irrespective of their fixed stoppages. But operators of most of the vehicles were charging the same fares, which they previously took in the name of seating services.
A number of passengers expressed their dissatisfaction, saying that despite the decision of stopping seating services they were still forced to pay fares at previous rates.
Most of the passengers also demanded that every bus display the BRTA-set fare-chart, so that they need not bargain about the rates.
Mahim Al Hasan, a passenger of Shadhin Express, told the FE that he was charged Tk 25 for the distance from Gulistan to Farmgate, the fare which they usually took from a Mirpur-bound 'direct' passenger.
He also said the Gulistan-Farmgate fare should not exceed Tk 10.
"I do not know what the benefit of stopping the seating services is, if they still take the extra and illogical fares," he added.
Some other passengers were also seen bargaining about the fares with the helper of a bus.
They also demanded display of a chart of fares in the bus so that the passengers know about the exact rates.
Another passenger of a seating service, Kamal Hossain, said he knew about the decision of stopping such services in the city.
"They demanded fare from me at the previous high rate, and I had to bargain to pay it at the normal rate."
He also pointed out the necessity to display the BRTA chart of location-wise fares for ensuring hassle-free journey of the passengers.
However, Shakil Hossain, the driver of a bus, said the new decision of not operating seating service buses was being implemented from Sunday, and they were also complying with it.
When asked about the passengers' complaints he said fares were being charged at normal rates, but still they were not satisfied.
He also said charts should be provided for every bus, so that no bargain takes place.
Passenger Welfare Association general secretary Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury in a statement said if the drive is properly carried out, it will end the passengers' sufferings. The passengers are found standing on roads for long hours.
He said it would also increase the standard of bus services by putting an end to the fare anarchy in the name of seating services.
He also cautioned that some dishonest owners and workers were trying to create obstacles in implementing the decision. They were charging fares at the previous rates and keeping their buses standing at the stoppages even after the vehicles were loaded.
When contacted, general secretary of Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity Khondokar Enayet Ullah told the FE that besides the BRTA-run mobile courts there are some vigilance teams of the association that are looking into the matter.
He also said they were also receiving complaints, but as the move had just started, some discrepancies might be found. It would take some more days to make the initiative a success.
"As we vowed to stop such service, we will do it by any means," he added.
On April 4, Khondaker Enayet Ullah in a press conference announced that no public transport would operate in Dhaka city in the name of seating service, gate-lock service or special service.
He said the decision had been taken after a meeting with BRTA for betterment of the passengers.
The transport owners will have to operate vehicles according to their respective route permit, and will have to take passengers from any place across the route instead of their fixed stoppages.
The transport owners were also directed not to charge more than the fares, mentioned in the BRTA-approved chart.
According to the association, at present around 4,500 buses and minibuses of 150 transport companies are running in the city.
wazeddu@yahoo.com
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