A passenger-welfare platform alleged on Thursday the owners reduced the number of buses for movement on the city's roads after e-ticketing system was introduced in the mass-transport services.
"We welcomed e-ticketing in the city's bus services. But after the introduction of the system, some owners have lowered the number of buses for plying the city roads in their own interests," said Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS).
Addressing a discussion at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital, Mr Chowdhury said there was a mixed reaction of passengers and the bus owners over the introduction of e-ticketing at the initial stage.
After e-ticketing system was introduced, the owners reduced the number of buses for plying the city roads and realised extra fare (between Tk 5 and Tk 10) from the passengers, alleged the chief of BJKS (also named in English- Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh).
Terming e-ticketing system a welcome move, he recommended bringing about a massive reform in the transport sector, apprehending the new system in the bus services might not be sustained otherwise.
He called upon the owners to mention all information in the e-ticket including names of the bus services, their registration numbers, details about journey along with distance, amount of fare and the date of journey and telephone numbers to facilitate lodging of complaint by passengers in any case.
Mr Hoque said from Rampura to Demra Staff Quarter the fare is now Tk25 (e-ticketing) which was Tk20 while from Khilkhet to Mirpur -2 it is Tk20 (e-ticketing) instead of Tk 15 in the past.
He, however, said from Khilkhet to Mirpur -11 the fare is Tk22 (e-ticketing) which was Tk30 while from Asadgate to Mirpur -1 it is now Tk13 (e-ticketing) which was Tk25 and from Shewarapara to Dhandmondi -27 it is Tk 13 (e-ticketing) which was Tk 20.
Speakers at the discussion also alleged that illegal toll collection and continued nagging traffic jam have been hampering investment in the sector, pushing it to further financial losses.
Vice-president of BJKS Tauhidul Hoque Lition presided over the discussion.
