Passengers bear brunt of CNG price hike
Monday, 16 May 2011
FE Report
Heated arguments and scuffles between passengers and transport workers have continued for the third consecutive day Sunday over the arbitrary fare hikes by transport operators. Immediately after the 50 per cent hike in compressed natural gas (CNG) price by the government, the operators have abruptly increased fare by at least Tk 4 for short distance in the capital, causing the altercations. The bus operators from last Friday suddenly increased the fares to Tk 12, Tk 15 and Tk 20 for different distances from the previous fare rates of Tk 8, Tk 10 and Tk 15 respectively. After visiting various locations of the city, it was found that passengers engaged in tussle over the unofficial and unauthorised fare hike. The passengers alleged that the bus owners made the hike only for gaining illegal profit. "The bus operators have charged much more fare for every distance than the official hike in prices of per cubic CNG," a passenger told the FE. Meanwhile, transport owners will sit with communication minister Monday for revising the existing fare following the increase in the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) and other fuel like petrol and diesel. According to the existing fare rate, CNG-driven busses charges Tk 1.20 for per kilometre distance and diesel-run inter-districts passenger carrying vehicles charges Tk 0.97 paisa for the same. The latest fare was revised in 2008. "We're going to propose the government to readjust the transport fare at Tk 1.80 per km for CNG-driven buses from the existing rate while Tk 1.27 for diesel-operated vehicles," said Khandaker Enayetullah, general secretary of Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity. He said the proposal was made following discussions with the owners' associations. "Tomorrow's (Monday) meeting will be very important for the sector as the owners have been struggling to cope with the recently increased fuel prices.
Heated arguments and scuffles between passengers and transport workers have continued for the third consecutive day Sunday over the arbitrary fare hikes by transport operators. Immediately after the 50 per cent hike in compressed natural gas (CNG) price by the government, the operators have abruptly increased fare by at least Tk 4 for short distance in the capital, causing the altercations. The bus operators from last Friday suddenly increased the fares to Tk 12, Tk 15 and Tk 20 for different distances from the previous fare rates of Tk 8, Tk 10 and Tk 15 respectively. After visiting various locations of the city, it was found that passengers engaged in tussle over the unofficial and unauthorised fare hike. The passengers alleged that the bus owners made the hike only for gaining illegal profit. "The bus operators have charged much more fare for every distance than the official hike in prices of per cubic CNG," a passenger told the FE. Meanwhile, transport owners will sit with communication minister Monday for revising the existing fare following the increase in the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) and other fuel like petrol and diesel. According to the existing fare rate, CNG-driven busses charges Tk 1.20 for per kilometre distance and diesel-run inter-districts passenger carrying vehicles charges Tk 0.97 paisa for the same. The latest fare was revised in 2008. "We're going to propose the government to readjust the transport fare at Tk 1.80 per km for CNG-driven buses from the existing rate while Tk 1.27 for diesel-operated vehicles," said Khandaker Enayetullah, general secretary of Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity. He said the proposal was made following discussions with the owners' associations. "Tomorrow's (Monday) meeting will be very important for the sector as the owners have been struggling to cope with the recently increased fuel prices.