Metro rail fare too high in comparison to others, says BNP

BNP today denounced the fare structure of the Dhaka metro rail, saying it is much higher than that of metro rails in neighbouring countries, including India and Pakistan.

"The BNP Standing Committee feels that the government has fixed this fare in violation of the Metro Rail Act and Rules and we protest it," said Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP standing committee while speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office.

He also said the current fare is double that of private buses.

The Dhaka metro rail's minimum fare was fixed at Tk 20 which is almost double to four times higher than the fares of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Lahore, he added.

Meanwhile the maximum fare of Tk 100 fixed for a distance of 20km is three to five times higher than Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Lahore.

Nazrul said it was mentioned in the rules and regulations of the metro rail that this project was taken with public money to ensure travelling in Dhaka is easier and cheaper.

The BNP leader said it is not justified to charge such exorbitant fares for the Dhaka metro rail. "We have presented a comparative picture of metro rail fares and we think the fares of metro rail should be lower in our country."