A number of auto-rickshaw drivers made trips on a contract basis in the capital yesterday, when the new fare chart and mandatory use of the meter for charging passengers came into force.

The Daily Star talked to over a dozen drivers and passengers of the CNG-run three-wheelers and found that nearly a third carried passengers on a contract basis.

Meanwhile, the city dwellers faced a transport shortage, as many auto-rickshaws went off the road due to mobile court drives by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

The road transport and bridges ministry on September 10 increased the auto-rickshaw fare in Dhaka and Chittagong cities and made it mandatory that drivers use the fare meter.

Owners and workers agreed to the decision.

"I have come from Shewrapara to Karwanbazar at Tk 150 on a contract basis. When I asked to pay according to the meter, the driver said the meter was out of order," said banker Sayeed Munna.

The correspondent under the disguise of a passenger asked to hire five auto-rickshaws for a trip to Kamalapur Railway Station. Of them, three agreed to charge according the meter while two asked for Tk 250.

Several drivers blamed the three-wheeler owners for disobeying rules.

"The government has set Tk 900 as the daily deposit money. But I am sure that no owner will obey it. As drivers have to pay 1,200 or more daily, they will surely overcharge passengers," said driver Rahmatullah, in Jatiya Press Club area.

The city dwellers had to wait for a long time to get auto-rickshaws as many were off the road fearing penalty by mobile courts.

"I waited over half an hour to get an auto-rickshaw but failed as the vehicles were not available. Finally, I traveled by bus and rickshaw," said Shakila Sarmin, a private job holder.

BRTA yesterday conducted mobile court drives at six points in the capital to check overcharging.

During one drive, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said such drives would continue to bring discipline in the public transport sector. 

As per the revised fare chart, a passenger will pay Tk 40 for travelling first 2km instead of the previous Tk 25, and Tk 12 for travelling every 1km next instead of Tk 7.64. The waiting charge for every minute was set at Tk 2 from Tk 1.40 and the minimum fare was raised to Tk 40 from Tk 25.

Drivers will have to pay Tk 900 daily to the owners for operating the vehicle, while the amount was previously Tk 600.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury demanded strict monitoring by the authorities to implement the decision.  However, Barkatullah Bhulu, convener of Dhaka Mohanagar CNG-Auto Rickshaw Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad, claimed that most auto-rickshaws were using meters.