The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) in day-long drives today detained 309 CNG-run auto-rickshaws for non-installation of meters and not following the set fare.

Traffic police of CMP detained the vehicles from several city spots.

The CMP and BRTA had earlier asked the owners and drivers to get meters installed on their auto-rickshaws by May, later extended to June 30 and to charge from the passengers the set fares following meter reading.

But a number of auto-rickshaw drivers ignored the directives.

Out of 13,000 owners, 12,000 complied. The authorities had set Tk 14 as the fare for the first two kilometres increasing from the previous rate of Taka 13.50 and Tk 6 for each subsequent kilometre, increasing from previous Tk 5, for CNG-run auto-rickshaws.

The minimum fare was set at Tk 18, instead of previous Taka 15.