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Commuters suffer for chaos in Ctg transport sector

Dwai rayan Barua
The city dwellers here have been facing untold sufferings while commuting on public vehicles due to chaos in the transport sector.
I he situation has worsened as the traffic department has failed to implement its plans taken over one year ago for streamlining the city’s traffic system.
In addition to this, hike in rickshaw fares added to the sufferings of the commuters during the last few months.
The measures taken by the traffic department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) in April last year include introduction of counter based in city bus service to drop and pick up passengers from the designated stop pages, restriction on sitting beside the drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws and tempos and travelling standing on the back of the tempo.
The commuters could enjoy benefits of these measures for a very short period of time due to non-cooperation of the drivers.
Traffic department has also virtually failed to ensure use of meters in the CNG-run autorickshaws.
The commuters also blamed the traffic department for not monitoring the services persistently to force the drivers and the transport workers to follow the traffic rules.
The law enforcers sometimes conduct drives against the unruly drivers but do not continue it to help the drivers restart previous practice, said Saifuddin, a private firm staff.
With removal of all the makeshift counters the commuters could buy ticket in advance for the city buses whereas commuters now struggle at different stoppages to get on a bus.
Schoolteacher Anindita said it is impossible for a woman and a child to get on a city bus or a tempo as most of them remain overcrowded.
Besides, the commuters are experiencing a new problem with the increase in rickshaw fare in last couple of months, shesaid.
Rickshawpullers charge higher fares on their own will since there is no fixed rate chart for the rickshaw fare.
Commuters have alleged that the rickshawpullers have doubled the fares and sometimes charge more than that.
Manirul said nowadays rickshawpullers chargeTk 20 to Tk 25 to take him to residence at Choumuhani from his office at Enayet Bazar, a distance of hardly two kilometers, when it wasTk lOtoTk 12 two or three months ago.
He said it is illogical when prices of essentials like rice, edible oil and flour have come down remarkably in last few months.
When asked about the fare hike, rickshawpuller Atar Ali said they are forced to charge higher as the owners have raised the daily deposit money by two to three times.
He said they would deposit Tk 25 to Tk 30 to hire a rickshaw for the whole day five to six months ago but now they are to pay Tk 60 toTk 80. Atar said they hardly can save over Tk 150. "Is the amount enough to feed a five-member family," he questioned.
Shahjahan, another rickshawpuller, echoed the same and added that prices of many commodities, including vegetables is still pricey.
Saifuddin Sawdagar, a rickshaw-owner, said they had to raise the deposit money due to price hike of tyre. seat, handle, chain and other equipment.