<i>A town that has no town service bus</i>
Commuters in Rangamati hill town have to count exorbitant amounts as they depend solely on CNG-run auto-rickshaws in absence of any town service bus.
Disagreement on fare of the three-wheelers often leads to altercation between drivers and passengers while the latter even face verbal or physical abuse for declining to pay 'excess fare'.
As per the fare fixed by the district administration, auto-rickshaw drivers realise Tk 20 per passenger (a three-wheeler carry five passengers although its usual capacity is three persons per trip) for going to Reserve Bazar or Tabalchhari from Vedvedi by whereas it would be half if town service is opened, locals said.
One has to pay much higher amount if he wants to carry goods in the town or surrounding areas.
Only half of the 414 four-stroke three-wheelers plying the hill town have got road permit, sources said.
During the period of past BNP-led four-party alliance government, Moni Swapan Dewan, the then deputy minister for CHT affairs ministry, tried to introduce bus service in the district town but the initiative failed in face of opposition from leaders of Rangamati District Auto-rickshaw Sramik Union.
Paresh Mojumder, secretary of union, however, said, "People will be benefited if 'town service' is launched. Why should we oppose such initiative?"
When contacted, Dipankar Talukder, state minister for CHT affairs ministry, said, "Initiative will be taken very soon for a roundtable to decide about launching town service. Chairmen of CHT Regional Council and Hill District Council or their representatives and all stakeholders will be called at the roundtable. I hope town service will help to mitigate people's sufferings."
"A meeting of BRTA will be held within this month in Rangamati. The issue launching of 'town service' will be discuss in the meeting," said Sourendra Nath Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of Rangamati.
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