The MRT (mass rapid transit) in Bangladesh has made the journey costlier as it charges higher fare than its peers in many Asian countries, insiders said on Friday.
The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transport Company Limited (DMTCL) has fixed Tk 100 ($0.96) for using the 21-km MRT line from Uttara North station to Kamalapur station.
An FE survey finds that passengers in China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan and Vietnam use MRT as a cheaper mode of transport.
They also pay much lower than Dhaka's MRT fare.
Transport experts and passenger welfare organisations have demanded a reduction in the fare for making the "MRT a truly mass transport system".
They suggested considering the per-capita income of other MRT-operating countries and that of Bangladesh for re-fixing the fare.
Transport expert and BUET professor, Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, said the MRT fare is higher than other Asian nations, thereby making a rich-only mode of transport.
The line has been built at an inflated cost than that of countries like India, Pakistan and Indonesia, so the fare goes costly for the public, he told the FE.
Beijing Metro charges only Chinese yuan (CNY) 3.0 ($0.44) for 0-6km, CNY4.0 ($0.58) for 6-12km, CNY5.0 ($0.73) for 12-22km and CNY6.0 ($0.87) for 22-32km, the FE finds.
An additional CNY2.0 ($0.29) will be charged for every 20km when it crosses 32km distance.
In 2017, Delhi Metro raised the minimum fare at Rs 10 ($0.12) per km and a maximum of Rs 60 ($0.73) for crossing any distance.
Until 2017 February, the fare was charged at Rs 8.0 ($0.097) per km with a highest fare of Rs 30 ($0.36).
Kolkata Metro has recently launched its Joka-Tar new line with a minimum fare of Rs 5.0 (40.06) and a maximum of Rs 20 ($0.24).
Pakistan's MRT fare has recently been enhanced due to rising inflation there. The Punjab government has revised the Orange Line Metro Train fare.
A Rs 20 ($0.088) will be charged for a journey up to 4.0km, Rs 25 (0.11) for up to 8.0km, Rs 30 ($0.13) for up to 12 km, Rs 35 ($0.15) for up to 16 km, Rs 40 ($0.18) from Ali Town to Dera Gujran and vice-versa (end-to-end journey), reports a Pakistani daily.
In November 2021, the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi started its first metro rail and fixed the ticket fare from $0.35 to $0.65.
A train of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Metro Line fares on Hanoi's first metro ranges from Vietnamese dong (VND) 8,000 to 15,000 ($0.35-0.65).
The Hanoi MRT has also offered facilities for students, elderly people, workers' children under six and persons with disabilities. People using non-cash payment methods will get a discount of VND500 per trip.
Travel will be free for the first 15 days after the metro begins operation, although the start date has not been announced yet.
Full trip from Cat Linh to the south-western district of Ha Dong through 12 stations will take 25 minutes.
The train can carry 960 passengers and run from 5am to 11pm every day.
In Thailand, the Bangkok MRT fare of a single journey ticket, which is valid for a single journey, depends on the chosen destination, starting at 16 baht ($0.47), up to 42 baht ($1.23) per journey on one line and up to 70 baht ($2.06) if you change lines on your journey.
In Malaysia, the MRT fare on Sungai Buloh-Kajang (MRT SBK) line under the Rapid Kuala Lumpur service brand starts at RM1.0 ($0.23) for a single stop on a cashless structure.
On the other hand, it costs RM1.10 ($0.25) on a cash basis, the rate being for a ride between the Pasar Seni and Merdeka stations.
The maximum fare will be RM6.40 ($1.45) based on cash fare structure, and RM5.50 ($1.25) on cashless fare structure-the rate covering the full 51-km distance between Sungai Buloh and Kajang, across 31 stations, reports a Malaysian daily.
Mr Hoque said, "The MRT income should not be realised from the fare only, some non-operational revenue should be generated to cover up the income-expenditure gap."
"Global practice is: fare is subsidised and a gap fund is mobilised through some non-operational revenue earnings beside MRT stations."
The expert suggested that the government rethink the MRT fare so the general public, including workers and labourers, can use it.
Passenger Welfare Association Bangladesh secretary general Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said the MRT fare in Bangladesh is one of the highest in Asia, which will affect the MRT concept as commoners will not be able to use it.
"The fares in Kolkata, Lahore and other cities in Asia are much lower than Bangladesh. The authorities have fixed the fare one-sided without consulting the users. The highest fare may affect MRT's best utilisation."
As MRT is built with the taxpayer's money, every citizen has the right to travel by this transport facility with an affordable fare, Mr Chowdhury said.
DMTCL managing director MAN Siddique told the FE that the government has fixed the fare as per law.
"The government formed a committee that, after considering things like per-capita income and purchasing power of the people, has fixed the fare."
He said the current fare would be 60-65 per cent of its operating costs. "The rest 35-40 per cent cost will be come from some other commercial ventures of the MRT."
About fares in other Asian countries, Me Siddique said: "Other countries constructed MRT many years ago when investment was lower. Even their governments may give a good portion of fare subsidy…"
