Public transport fares hiked

The government has revised fares for CNG-run public transport and auto-rickshaws plying in Dhaka and Chittagong. The new fares were fixed on Thursday during an inter-ministerial meeting, said Roads Transport Minister Obaidul Quader. The revision of fares comes after the government recently hiked the prices of fuel oil and gas. Fares of buses have been raised to Tk 1.70 per kilometre from Tk 1.60 while for minibuses it’s Tk 1.60 from the existing Tk 1.50. But the minimum fares have been kept at Tk 7 and 5 for buses and minibuses respectively plying in the two metropolis – Dhaka city and Chittagong city.
The new fares will be effective from October 1, 2015. However, revised fares for auto-rickshaws will be effective from November 1.
Auto-rickshaw fare for the first two kilometres has been increased from Tk 25 to Tk 40, while Tk 12 will be charged for the next kilometres, which was previously Tk 7.64. Moreover, Tk 2 will be charged in lieu of Tk 1.04, for midway intermissions.
Auto-rickshaw drivers will have to pay their owners Tk 900 per day as rent instead of the present charge of Tk 600, according to a news agency.
- biplab