Most port city auto-rickshaw drivers not using fare meters

Though the use of meters was made mandatory on February 1, most of the drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws in Chittagong city are still charging passengers based on contracts.

While passengers say they are not getting any benefit from the meter system, drivers argue that their daily income drops significantly if they use meters.

The drivers still charge fares at their whim despite having meters, said Touhidul Emon, a university student.

He called for a strong action against the drivers violating the rules.

"I stopped five autos to go to Pologround area from Munshipukurpar in the city recently, but all five drivers refused to go by meters," said Anwar Hossain, a private firm employee.

He said the drivers asked to go on contracts and demanded excessive fares. 

The drivers, however, claimed most passengers wanted to travel only short distances by meters, so they turned them down at times.

Mohammad Rafique, a CNG-auto-rickshaw driver, said their income had dropped since the introduction of the meter system.

On one hand the drivers have to charge government-fixed fares, and on the other they have to pay owners more money as a daily deposit than earlier, he said.

The daily deposit money to owners was increased from Tk 600 to Tk 900 now corresponding with a hike in auto-rickshaw fares before the use of meters was made mandatory.

Md Harunur Rashid, general secretary of Chattagram Auto-rickshaw Auto-tempo Sramik Union, said it would be tough to enforce the use of meters if the daily deposit remained Tk 900.

He urged to keep the deposit at Tk 600 as earlier. 

"We want all CNG-run auto-rickshaws to use meters," said Haider Azam Chowdhury, president of Chittagong District and Chittagong City CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Malik Chalok Oikya Parishad.

"We have asked the administration to take action if someone does not use the meter," he added.

However, Chowdhury claimed the owners were still taking Tk 600 as the daily deposit from the drivers despite the government raising it to Tk 900. 

Deputy Commissioner (Traffic-North) Masud-ul Hasan of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said they were taking action against the rule breakers regularly.

He, however, said the drivers and passengers disobeyed the rules in connivance.  

"Once the task of installation of meters in all auto-rickshaws is completed, we will conduct mobile courts to strictly monitor the use of meters," he added.

Meters have already been installed in 95 percent of the registered auto-rickshaws, the official said, adding it would require at most another week to bring the rest under the meter system.