Transport owners target earning Tk 20m raising fare

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BARISAL, Sept 18 (UNB): The transport owners in Barisal region has targeted to earn some Tk 20 million (2.0 crore) more by increasing fare during the Eid festival.
The passengers may have to pay 40 per cent to 60 per cent higher fare than the present to go home and return by both road and water transports during the 10 days (five days before and five days after) Eid holidays.
On other hand, BIWTA and BRTC not yet announced any special trip schedule while United Airways planned to connect Barisal with Dhaka ahead of the Eid.
Meanwhile, the transport and passenger sources said the tickets for one day before and after Eid festival have already been sold out.
After visiting booking offices of different launches, it was found that only tickets of special trips are available.
Sources said some 224 launches will likely ply on the 28 major routes in Barisal division in those busy 10 days. Extra trips of launches and buses were not counted.
One way fare for a passenger on the Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route has been increased from Tk 800 to Tk 1,400 for double seated cabin, from Tk 400 to Tk 700 for single seated cabin, from Tk 1,800 to Tk 3,000 for VIP cabin, from Tk 250 to Tk 400 for a sofa, from Tk 100 to Tk 170 for a deck seat.
On the other hand, the one-way bus fare on the same route has been increased from Tk 280 to Tk 400.
Local Transport Owners' Association sources said the fare on the same route fixed by the government was Tk 284 for each bus passenger and Tk 133 for each launch deck passenger.
Advance cabin tickets are almost sold out two weeks before the Eid holidays, sources said.
Black marketing of tickets by the agents of the launch and bus owners and staff are already alleged by many passengers.
According to Launch Owners' Association, some 112 launches will ply on the Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route on those ten days with an average of 30 cabins per launch. At least Tk 12 million will be earned by increasing fare on an average of Tk 300 per seat.
The bus owners also increased the fare by Tk 80 at least for each passenger. They are likely to earn more than Tk 4.0 million.
The BIWTC and BRTC authorities are facing acute shortages of vessels and other transports to tackle the Eid-rush.