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CNG chaos drags on

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
***From the very first day that meter was incorporated into three wheelers, confusion reigned supreme. People in general were under the impression that the days of haggling and arguments -- and indeed occasional fistfights -- with drivers were over.***
At Agargaon, Nurul Karim hailed and got on a CNG autorickshaw. He told the driver to go to Karwanbazaar. The smartly dressed driver, with navy blue pants and bush shirt tucked in under the belt, turned the meter on and started off to the destination. When he reached there, Karim was pleasantly surprised to note than the meter read only Tk 17.
He usually he has to churn out Tk 40 for the same distance. He happily paid the driver Tk 20 and happily sauntered in to his office humming a tune. The driver understandably was none too happy and accepted the money only grudgingly.
A resident of Green Road, Habibur Rahman has to go to Gopibagh frequently to do some business. He would usually take an autorickshaw and pay somewhere between Tk 50 to 60 depending on his haggling skills on that particular day. He thought with meters on, the fare would be considerably less.
However, much to his disappointment once he got down he saw that the meter read Tk 76. When he asked the driver about it, he made a laconic reply. "Look at the meter." Muttering an oath under his breath he paid the driver.
From the very first day that meter was incorporated into three wheelers, confusion reigned supreme. People in general were under the impression that the days of haggling and arguments -- and indeed occasional fistfights -- with drivers were over.
"I am really glad. Earlier I had to give in to the driver's whims. You see haggling in the streets is not considered a feminine quality," Selina, an executive at a bank, said.
But everyone was not that lucky.
Many vehicles had meters that gave faulty readings. The autorickshaw Habib got in had a Taiwanese meter called Watta. A deputy director of BRTA told Star City, " We have given permission for five brands of fare metersPricol, Standard, PIC, Eagle and Super. Use of any other meters is illegal."
To give the police its due they were seen busy taking actions against errant drivers. 81 autorickshaws without meters or with faulty ones were confiscated and 471 cases were lodged against drivers for myriad of offences ranging from not wearing designated uniforms, refusing to go on meters or… a new one… misbehaving with passengers. For their part the drivers said they were not informed of the uniform business but that if you believe the authorities should be taken with a pinch of salt. However police surveillance, expectedly, was lax after the first few days. The cabbies still simply refuse to go on meters. And the hapless passengers are forced to comply. Passengers believe if the police continued to be active as the first day things would be much better.
For their part the drivers say the owners have not reduced the rent. "Even after the introduction of the meter the owners insist on getting the payment they received earlier. If they reduce the amount in a realistic manner we won't have any problems in following the meter," said Rahim, a driver.
Meanwhile, many garages of the city are still full of autorickshaws yet to install meters. But
People complain it is very difficult to get a CNG autorickshaw these days.