" If the traffic sergeant stops us, tell him I am following the meter." In the capital, this conversation is often how our CNG rides begin. Thus passengers are often forced to lie to the police officers at check-points when questioned about their fare.
Common worries for people who depend on the city's green auto-rickshaws include: being overchraged, not being delivered to one's destination despite having agreed to pay twice or three times the usual rate, and witnessing the drivers getting into heated arguments and scuffles among themselves.
Ishtiaque Chowdhury, who runs a business in Tongi and lives in Adabar, says: “Sometimes when the bus is late, I opt for a CNG. It seems like Tk300 is a fixed rate – they always blurt it out like a parrot!”
“Previously the drivers used to agree to go by the meter with an additional Tk20-30. Nowadays, even that doesn’t work,” adds Chowdhury.
Sadia Sobhan, a homemaker, once tried to tell a police officer the truth about the fare, but was faced with an unpleasant experience.
“While returning from Mirpur, we were stopped at a check post and the police officer asked me what rate he was going by. I answered that driver had charged Tk30 extra. Then the officer checked his papers, fined him, and told him to take me to my destination according to the meter price. He kept swearing for the rest of our journey, and charged me the extra Tk30 in the end anyway. So, both my time and money were lost.”
Chowdhury voiced sentiments felt by many: “The city dwellers are hostages at the hands of the drivers, especially during the busy hours of the day.”
Drivers’ grudges
The drivers, on their part, term the fare fixed by the government “unjust,” considering the rise in the prices of essentials, and the fact that the owners of the vehicles overcharge them.
The green auto-rickshaws were introduced in 2004, when the government also set the fares and owners’ deposits. The process is managed and monitored by the communications ministry with the help of police and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
According to an updated fare chart issued by BRTA in 2011, the charge for the first 2km is Tk25, Tk7 for each subsequent kilometre and Tk1.25 per minute of stoppage. Additionally, drivers are supposed to pay vehicle owners Tk600 per day as rent.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Auto-Rickshaw Owners’ Association President Md Barkat Ullah Bhulu says a change is expected.
“Negotiations are ongoing with the government to increase the minimum fare, per kilometre charges and to rebalance the deposit – ensuring a 10% profit for both sides. The government seems to be cooperative but nothing can be said until a clear declaration is made,” he told us.
Ibrahim, an auto-rickshaw driver, says: “The owners never follow this government-fixed rate. We now have to pay Tk850-900 to the owner as daily deposit. They are powerful, and it is futile to lodge a case against them.”
Bhulu’s account differs. “We buy one vehicle at Tk7-8lakh. The drivers only bear the fuel expenses while we bear the maintenance costs, garage rent, licence renewal and many other things,” he says. “If we get only Tk600 as daily deposit then we would have only around Tk470 in hand. This is not profitable for us either.”
However, that is not explanation enough for Ibrahim, who has to account for other expenditures as well.
“I drive the rickshaw from 9am to 9pm. In between, I bear the expenses for fuel, and my personal expenses like tea and food. So, at the end of the day my income stands at only Tk300-500,” he says, further alleging that traffic sergeants often harass them with the excuse of checking the fares.
However, Md Shah Abid Hossain, deputy commissioner (trafficnorth) says: “It is very easy to point the finger at the police. I admit that there have been some irregularities; however, the surveillance is much stronger than before. If any CNGrun auto rickshaw driver is found to breach the law he is fined Tk400-450. For being unregistered, having an unfit vehicle, or no meter, he is fined more. It adds up to around Tk2,000-2,500.”
“We ask the passengers to lie to police and they do so to save time. But the police, after letting the passengers go, take us aside, charge a fine and also take bribe,” claims Ibrahim.
Rabiul Islam, another autorickshaw driver, says during Ramadan there are fewer passengers so the drivers may charge more.
This will likely increase the woe of commuters, especially given the sense of urgency that tends to engulf the city during Ramadan.
The blame game
While each member of the system has their own explanation, the blame is often passed on to BRTA, whom Hossain maintains are responsible for monitoring the enforcement of the law.
“BRTA is responsible for giving licenses and setting rates. Here is a conflicting situation: 99% of the time the passengers do not complain and give in to the demands of the CNG drivers regarding the price. According to the Motor Vehicle Act, the privately owned three wheelers cannot run commercially.
However, currently there are more privately owned three wheeler auto rickshaws than the meter-run ones. This is because the BRTA has provided them with licenses. These irregularities need to be addressed.”
Abid mentions a smart card which BRTA has recently launched. “If any driver is fined for breaking the traffic law, he can now pay the fine by swiping the card. So his documents are not immediately seized. This reduces the hassle for the drivers.”
According to Bhulu, both the fare and the deposit should be increased as the price of everything has increased over the last few years.
“There is no question about the fact there is a chaos regarding the CNG fares. But, since 2004, rates have been increased only twice. They have to be re-adjusted, considering the rising cost of daily necessities,” he told us.
Bhulu said negotiations were ongoing among representatives of owners, drivers, the communication ministry, and the Consumers Association of Bangladesh.
“If any owner or driver does not adjust their meters after the revision of fares, punitive measures will be taken against them,” he added.
Sharifuzzaman Sharif, executive director of Nagorik Sanghati, blames an unwillignness to enforce the law on the government’s part.
“BRTA has to be more active and the communication ministry seems to be more focused on the license
issue than the fares.”
“Furthermore, more public transport should be introduced like quality buses, to curb the dominance of the auto-rickshaws” he said.
