The government on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to launch a drive against unruly CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers and owners responsible for passengers’ sufferings in the capital.
The order came in the wake of widespread complaints against the drivers of the three-wheelers that they were always reluctant to run on meter, rather charged extra-fare from the passengers, flouting the existing rate which was revised upwards in January 2011.
‘The concerned authorities have been asked to go tough against the delinquent auto-rickshaw drivers and owners who are flouting the government directives and rules. Police will go for action against them within a week,’ secretary of roads and highways division Md Mozammel Haque Khan told a meeting at the secretariat.
Communications minister Syed Abul Hossain presided over the meeting on implementation of the government-fixed fare chart for CNG auto-rickshaws and mandatory use of meter. Officials from the agencies concerned and representatives of the owners and drivers of the three-wheelers attended the meeting.
The passengers’ common allegation is that the drivers usually refuse to take them for a short distance while the drivers allege that they have to give additional money for deposit to the owners of the CNG auto-rickshaws.
The minister asked the drivers and owners of the three-wheelers to abide by the rules and the government’s directives in terms of fare and deposit as well so that the passengers do not suffer.
The secretary said that the garages of the CNG auto-rickshaws would be sealed if the owners were found realising extra-money for deposit from the drivers.
The meeting decided to strictly implement the motor vehicle ordinance of 1983 to restore discipline in the transport sector.
The owners are realising around Tk 700 to Tk 800 daily for each auto-rickshaw although the drivers are supposed to deposit Tk 600. Some owners are realising the deposit for two shifts in a day—from 7:00am to 7:00pm and from 7:00pm to 7:00am, said drivers’ representatives at the meeting.
General secretary of Dhaka Auto-rickshaw Owners’ Association Faridul Islam admitted that some owners were taking extra-money from the drivers as deposit. He assured the association’s cooperation in taking action against those flouting the government’s directives.
The government through a gazette notification on January 9, 2011, raised the CNG-run auto-rickshaw fare from Tk 14 to Tk 25 for the first two km and from Tk 6 to Tk 7 for each of the subsequent miles and the daily deposit was raised to Tk 600 from Tk 450.
Courtesy of New Age
