Dhaka-Barisal river route: BIWTC increases fares by 90% in five years

The state run Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has increased passenger fares by 35% to 40% within eight months and more than 90% within five years.   Acknowledging the fact, Station Assistant General Manager of BIWTC, Barisal Gopal Chandra Majumdar, said one way fare for the 169 kilometre-long route was Tk565 for a deluxe (1st class) cabin seat, Tk355 for the higher (2nd class) class cabin seat and Tk95 for the lower (deck) class seat from 2008 to April 9, 2012.   Then, it was increased by 25-35% and the fares become Tk750, Tk450 and Tk120 respectively from the aforementioned rates on April 10, 2012. A little after eight months, the BIWTC once again increased the fare by Tk35-40% on January this year.   Another Station Assistant General Manager, Gopal Krishna Majumdar, said each passenger on this route will now have to pay Tk1,060 for a deluxe (1st) class cabin seat, Tk630 for a higher (2nd) class cabin seat and Tk170 for a lower class (deck) seat as a one way fare on Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route. He has also claimed that, despite the hike, the fares are still cheap and the service standards are higher in comparison with the fares for same route in private vessels.   However, considering the fuel price hikes and implementation of a new pay-scale, BIWTC has decided to increase its fare as the operating cost increased to Tk400m from Tk200m within a year, the official explained.   In private triple-deck launches on the same route, each passenger has to pay Tk850 for a first class cabin seat, Tk400-450 for a sofa and Tk 150-180 for a deck seat during normal periods, and Tk1,000, Tk600, Tk250 during the 15-day Eid schedule.   BIWTC carries fewer passengers than private transport organisations on the Barisal-Dhaka route, but vehicle and cargo transport systems are completely under the control of BIWTC, said the Launch Owners’ Association Vice President, the Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and Saidur Rahman Rintu, while talking to this correspondent yesterday.