The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Commuters in the city are bearing the brunt of the recent doubling of the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the government, as the drivers of CNG-run cabs and three-wheelers were charging exorbitant fares on the first day of the price hike yesterday.

The doubled CNG price put autorickshaw and taxicab drivers in a difficult situation and in most cases it led to quarrel and even scuffle with the passengers. As a result many passengers faced difficulties in reaching their destinations.

Most private car owners who recently converted their vehicles to CNG for its cheap price have expressed resentment over the doubling of CNG price.

On Thursday the Government has raised price of CNG from Tk 8.50 to Tk 16.75 per cubic metre effective from Friday.

After the decision of price hike, CNG-run buses on different city routes have suddenly cut their services due to shutdown of most of the CNG filling stations yesterday fearing attacks on their pumps by disgruntled people.

While visiting city filling stations this correspondent found several CNG pumps at key points and bus terminals closed. Some pump owners said they had closed their stations to avoid untoward incidents. They said that they would open their establishments after monitoring the situation for a while.

As a result city dwellers were found facing difficulties in reaching their destinations in the afternoon.

"We are fearing that the sudden price hike of CNG could prompt the bus owners to raise the price when our income remains the same" said a private bank official, a daily commuter between Uttara and Motijheel.

Passengers who are mostly dependent on CNG-run buses, as mode of transport demanded of the government to prevent the bus owners from raising the fare.

Talking to this correspondent some bus owners said they were planning to raise the fare with a view to minimise their loss.

However, officials of the concerned ministry said the Government would not allow bus and truck operators to raise their fare.

But they said the re-fixing of CNG-run autorickshaw and taxicab fare would be considered positively.

It is leant that the Ministry of Communication is likely to re-fix the fare of CNG run autorickshaw and taxicab in a couple of days.

The CNG price was last fixed on June 13 in 2005 at Tk 8.50 from which the pump operators received Tk 6.02 and the government share was Tk 2.43.

After the newly increased price the pump operators will get Tk 0.75 as additional cost from the total price and the government will get the rest Tk 9.97 per cubic metre of CNG.

Meanwhile, talking to the media yesterday the Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the increase of CNG price was 'logical' despite some sufferings as 'subsidy cannot go for long'.