The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday has re-fixed fares for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) run autorickshaws and taxicabs. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting with Communication Secretary Dr Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman in the chair.

An official of the Ministry said the fares for CNG run autorickshaws was raised to Tk 6 a kilometre, non-AC taxicabs to Tk 8 and AC taxicabs to Tk 10.

The minimum fare of the autorickshaws will start at Tk 18 and non-AC taxicabs at Tk 30 and AC taxicabs at Tk 40.

Fare for the first 2 kilometre or the lowest charge of autorickshaws is Tk 18 and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 6. And per minute waiting charge of autorickshaws is Tk one.

Fare for first 2-kilometre of AC taxicab is Tk 40 and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 10. The lowest charge of economy taxicab is Tk 30 for the first two kilometre and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 8.

ATKM Ismail, Additional Secretary of Communication Ministry and BRTA Chairman Sunil Kanti Bosh and representatives of vehicles owners and transport workers organisations, among others, attended the meeting.

Our Chittagong Correspondent says: Unscrupulous CNG run autorichkshaws and taxi divers have allegedly demanded high fares from the passengers on the grounds of recent price hike that led to brawls between the passengers and drivers.

"I am already exhausted with the price spiral and CNG fare hike has added an extra load" said Alimullah a mid-level government official.

One the other hand CNG run autorickshaws and taxi drivers said that they had no option but to charge high fares.

Commuters in the capital are also suffering due the recent doubling of the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the government, as the drivers of CNG-run cabs and three-wheelers had started charging exorbitant fares from the first day of the price hike on Friday.

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

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.