The National Committee for the Protection of Shipping, Roads and Railways urged the authorities concerned to reduce the 50 per cent fare of the metro rail fixed by the government.
In a statement by the organisation’s president Md Shahid Mia and general secretary, Ashish Kumar Dey made the demand on Wednesday.
Criticising metro rail’s minimum fare at Tk 20 and per kilometre fare at Tk 5, they said private transport owners will be benefitted from the decision.They also termed the fare as “unfair”, “undesirable” and “unacceptable”.
The National Committee for the Protection of Shipping, Roads and Railways also urged the authorities concerned to re-fix the minimum fare at Tk 10 and per kilometre fare at Tk 3.
The living cost has gone up by more than 40 per cent due to the increase in the prices of fuel oil, as well as the hike in the prices of daily necessities including medicines. Low-income people are struggling to support their families. The high fare of the metro rail will add an additional burden to them, reads the statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, the government announced the minimum fare of the metro at Tk 20 and Tk 5 per kilometre of travel.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan/Golam Rosul