Turning down the demand of auto-rickshaw owners for raising the fare of their three-wheelers, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said on Wednesday there will be no auto-rickshaw fare hike right now.
“The existing auto-rickshaw fare will remain in force …no further hike right now,” the minister said after a meeting with ‘Dhaka City CNG Auto-rickshaw Malik Samiti Oikyo Parishad’ at the Secretariat.
He said the existing rate of fare will continue until the committee on fare takes any further decision in this regard.
Referring to the recommendation of Buet, the minister said overhauling of auto-rickshaw engines and its mechanical checking from approved workshops must be ensured. “It’s necessary to make sure that the passengers can pay fare as per the meter,” he added.
Quader announced that a seven-member committee — with four representatives from CNG owners and three from Bangladesh Roads Transport Authority (BRTA)– will be formed which will determine which institutions will provide certificates over the economic life of auto-rickshaws.
At the meeting, the auto-rickshaw owners demanded that the economic life of auto-rickshaws be raised to 15 years from 11 years.
The owners placed a 5-point demand, which includes a hike in fare, raising the economic life, stopping police harassment, separate parking stands and lowering the income tax.
Quader said they would solve the problems by discussing with the concerned authorities.
Source: UNB Connect
