Exorbitant fares still charged in port city

Although the authorities concerned have made it mandatory for the auto-rickshaws to use fare meters since February 1, most of the CNG-run auto-rickshaws in the port city are operating without using them, ignoring the government's directives. 

The drivers are still charging passengers based on contracts and at times demanding exorbitant fare, alleged Md Mozammel Huq Chowdhury, president of Chittagong Regional Committee of the Passengers' Welfare Association. The passengers have to face constant and unnecessary haggling due to that, he said, adding, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police should take strict action against this.

“The drivers do not want to go by meters and also charge additional fares,” alleged Anwar Hossain, a businessman of Bibirhat area.

However, Md Mizan, an auto-rickshaw driver, claimed that it was the passengers who do not want to travel long distance using meters.

Moreover, the owners have increased the daily deposit money, he said. “I used to pay Tk 600, now it's Tk 700.”

Haider Azam Chowdhury, president of Chittagong District and Chittagong City CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Malik Chalok Oikya Parishad, said they have also urged the CMP to take action against drivers for not using the meters.

“The daily deposit has to be reduced to its original amount of Tk 600, to ensure the proper implementation of the metering system,” said Md Harunur Rashid, general secretary of Chattagram Auto-rickshaw Auto-tempo Sramik Union.

Some of the owners are charging Tk 600, some Tk 700 or Tk 800 as daily deposit, he claimed. Haider Azam Chowdhury, however, claimed that the owners in Chittagong city are taking Tk 700 as daily deposit from the drivers, even though the government increased it to Tk 900.  

Masud-ul-Hasan, additional commissioner (traffic) of CMP, said they have been conducting drives regarding this issue and planning to strengthen it from Sunday.

“We could not properly implement the rules as there were many unregistered auto-rickshaws plying the street before. We have resolved that issue following a High Court order and the plying has stopped since Eid,” he said. “We have also held a meeting with the owners of the CNG-run auto-rickshaws on Wednesday to inform them about the upcoming drive,” he further said.  

There are about 13,000 registered CNG-run auto-rickshaws in Chittagong city, according to CMP traffic division sources.