Most city public transports charging exorbitant fares

Most city bus operators and the drivers of CNG-fuelled auto rickshaws and ridesharing motorcycles have been charging exorbitant fares from the passengers in the capital since the beginning of Ramadan, says a study report. 
The report has also showed that after office hours almost all buses turn into so-called seating service and cause huge sufferings to homebound commuters before iftar everyday.
The Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh conducted the study based on visits by the association’s three teams to Kamalapur, Moghbazar, Shanir Akhra, Gulistan, Saidabad, Jatrabari, Postogola, Shahbagh, Farmgate, Mirpur-10, Mohakhali, Agargaon, Dhanmondi, Banani and Baridhara areas over the last seven days. 
During the visits, the association has found that since the beginning of Ramadan about 97 per cent city buses and minibuses have been running as so-called seating service between 3:00pm and 6:30pm by closing their doors. 
As a result, passengers waiting to get into the public vehicles at the intermediate stoppages have become victims of this anarchy.
The buses also charge extra fare from the passengers in violation of the government-fixed rates. 
In case of CNG-powered autos, almost all of them compel the passengers to hire them on contract taking three- to fourfold fare while around 93 per cent drivers decline to go to the destination as the passenger wants. 
The report says that for the first time motorcyclists – providing ridesharing services – have also been collecting three- to fourfold fare from the passengers after 4:00pm across the city since the beginning of Ramadan. 
The situation causes a huge number of passengers to wait on roads for vehicles daily before iftar. 
The report has revealed that around 98 per cent passengers are victims of the exorbitant fares, 95 per cent have to put up with increased sufferings, 90 per cent have expressed serious dissatisfaction over the irregularities.
It has also found that some 93 per cent do not know where to complain about the malpractices while another 90 per cent have said that they think it’s no use making complaints. 
The study has further showed that around 68 per cent passengers are forced to get on and down from running buses and 36 per cent to keep standing inside the so-called seating-service buses. 
The association has alleged that the bus operators target those passengers who are in a hurry to reach home before iftar and forcibly charge them increased fare. 
Only a handful companies and the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation run buses, as usual, follow fixed rates of fare and passengers crammed into these buses. 
Another finding of the study is that few taxicabs have been found at the areas visited. 
Passengers also suffer due to lack of waiting sheds or overcrowding of the few sheds that are still there at some places. 
Though there have meanwhile been media reports about the situation the authorities concerned are yet to take actions against the irregularities.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net