City commuters in high-fare glitch

Drivers of taxicabs and CNG-run auto-rickshaws are charging passengers high fares, taking advantage of the acute public transport shortage.

With rickshaws off many busy roads and two-stroke three-wheelers phased out, the middle class city dwellers are now facing troubles commuting to work.

The laid-back approach of the transport authorities to finding alternatives has compounded the problem so much that the less affluent are in increasing anguish over their budget.

Any workday, hundreds of men, women and children keep waiting for transport on the entire stretch of rickshaw-free Mirpur Road, Panthapath and Sonargaon Road. Few buses on the route are jam-packed.

Taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers refuse to carry passengers at first approach. When insisted, the drivers invariably demand an exorbitant fare.

But helpless commuters, especially women with children, have no option other than giving in to the unreasonable demand.

At 9.30am Monday, about 50 commuters were waiting at the Shukrabad bus stand. Buses to New Market, Gulistan and Sonargaon were packed with passengers. Although some taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers were lazing out at the intersection, they said 'no' to every approach by the eager commuters.

When a woman with two schoolchildren in uniform pleaded for help, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver asked for Tk 60 to take her to Azimpur Colony, hardly two kilometres off.

When the woman protested, the unscrupulous driver blamed the owner of the vehicle for charging him (the driver) Tk 550 a day in rentals.

The frustrated woman said she had waited for over 30 minutes with her children and asked the driver to take them to the destination anyway.

Not far away, the driver of a black taxicab picked up an argument with two men when they boarded the cab to travel to Motijheel. Upon refusal, one of them told the driver that he had no right to say that. When the two men warned the driver of police action, the driver replied, "That will cost me only 100 taka. Don't threaten me with police action."

Soon afterwards, a police sergeant on a motorbike arrived there. The two men jumped out of the taxi and complained to the officer. The young officer immediately booked the taxi. And the two men disappeared by the time the sergeant completed his work.

Official sources claimed that once the three-wheelers are equipped with meters by February 1, the problem would be solved. But drivers of three-wheelers said they would not be able to use meters as long as the daily rental for vehicles remains the same.

Many commuters believe that unless there is a police clampdown, their plight will not be over.

"Before the drivers are given the vehicles, they must be made to sign a promissory note on how to behave with passengers," said a female official of the AG office, who commutes to work every day.

Officials of the traffic department said they received numerous complaints about hassles. They will take stern action against the drivers, they promised.

"Please inform us by telephone or complain to the officers on duty," said an official of the traffic department.