CNG auto-rickshaw drivers averse to meters in Bangladesh

Auto-rickshaw fares have been doubled but that has not satisfied their drivers.

The problem remains – drivers do not want to use meters and bargain for more.

Those travelling short distances are refused.

Those who do agree to travel using their meters usually want an additional Tk 20 to Tk 50.

Fare for the first two kilometre has been fixed at Tk 40, instead of Tk 25, since Nov 1 last year.

Every kilometre after that now costs Tk 12, instead of Tk 7.64. The meter counts Tk 2 for every minute of break, which was once Tk 1.4. 

The drivers seemed to have accepted the new fares for the first few days but soon reverted to their past practices.

The drivers have always been saying they are left with nothing after paying the vehicle’s owners at the end of the day.

Owners who now get Tk 900 per day, used to get Tk 600 but drivers would accuse them of taking up to Tk 1,200.     

In the last week of January, the Jatri Kalyan Samity or Passenger Welfare Association ran a survey to find that 62% of drivers are still enforcing their own fares.

Atleast 81 percent rely on the meter and demand tips and 73 percent refuse to take people to their chosen destinations if they are a short way off. 

A total 1,093 auto-rickshaws from 19 areas in Dhaka and 1,160 passengers were covered by the survey.