Taxies are few and far between

Hardly any taxicabs are visible on the streets of Dhaka. When a taxi does appear on the scene, the fares are too high. The government has granted two companies this business, but the companies have not been following the stipulated conditions. As a result, the city commuters suffer.

The government gave Toma Construction and the Army Welfare Trust four months to out 500 taxicabs on the streets. However, in one year they have only been able to bring out 267 taxicabs in the city with a population of about 15 million. Yet according to the policy adopted in 2010, a total of 6,740 air-conditioned and non- air-conditioned new taxicabs were supposed to be put on the streets.

From 1998 to 2010, a total of 11,000 taxicabs had been launched, but before the 10-year term could even end, these were all out of order, according to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

A total of 828 thousand vehicles, including buses, cars, motorbikes and others, are registered in Dhaka. Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, says that on a busy day about 200 thousand to 225 thousand vehicles, other than motorbikes, ply the city streets.

Suffering commuters and the drivers say that the taxi service has fallen flat due to excessively high fare, insufficient number of taxicabs, as well as the government's lack of initiative and weak policy.

National Board of Revenue sources say that 131% duty is imposed on the import of three-year-old 1500cc cars, but duty on a taxicab of the same calibre is 49%. The government has made an 82% concession on taxies as a means of public transport. Duty on commercial vehicles goes up if more than 1500cc, but it remains the same for taxicabs. According to the rules, a taxicab must be at least 1500cc.

Despite these provisions to facilitate import, taxi fare was raised 127% more than specified in the rules even before the cabs took to the streets. Last June applications were submitted to raise the fare further at night, but BRTA has refused.

MAN Siddique, secretary for the ministry of road transport and bridges, tells Prothom Alo, "I am aware that the people of Dhaka are suffering due to the inadequate number of taxicabs. We are in constant communication with the two companies to ensure that they bring out the stipulated number of taxicabs." He said they would approach new companies to launch more taxicabs after Eid.

Excessive fare: The taxi fare for the first two kilometres is 85 taka. After that it is 34 taka per km. In Kolkata the taxi fare is 31.36 taka (in Bangladeshi taka) for the first two kms and 15 taka per km after that. In Delhi the first two kms cost 31 taka and 17 taka per km after that. In Bangkok taxies take an equivalent of 83 taka for the first two kilometres and then 12 taka per km after that.

Mozammel Huq Chowdhury, secretary general of the Passenger Welfare Association, says that the public does not benefit at all from the import duty concessions for taxicabs. These have no contribution to public transportation in Dhaka. Most people cannot afford to travel by these taxies.

Drivers and passengers say that due to the steep fares, no one commutes by taxi unless in dire need. The distance from Uttara to Motijheel is around 20 kms. If one gets a taxi immediately, it will cost about 700 to 800 taka to travel this distance. If the traffic jams are bad, this will reach up to 1000 taka.

Sheikh Liton, manager of Rupayan Rent-a-Car in Dhanmondi, says that rental for an air-conditioned X Corolla of Allion car in Dhaka and nearby areas for 10 to 12 hours is 2000 taka on average with 700 to 800 taka for fuel.

Taxies are not available immediately due to the inadequate number on the streets. If one phones for a taxi, the metre racks up over a hundred taka before the passenger can even climb in. The driver starts his metre the moment he receives the call, no matter where he may be. Yet the rule is to pay 20 taka extra if the taxi is called by phone.

Saidur Rahman, coordinator of Toma Taxicab, says, "When the passenger phones for a cab, we inform him of the cab's location and so he can decide whether he wants to hire it or not. We really have nothing to do. We are trying to convert from oil to gas. Then perhaps we can facilitate the passengers further."

Speaking to about 10 cab drivers of Toma and the Army Welfare Trust, it was learnt that the management has fixed the daily earning target at 2500 to 3000 taka. If the income exceeds 3000 taka, the driver gets 50 taka per thousand. As a result, the drivers are more interested in long distance passengers rather than short distance ones. One of the drivers says that they take extra fare it they have to go beyond Tongi Bridge of Savar.

Conditions violated: Toma and the Army Welfare Trust have put only 267 taxicabs on the streets after being given permission in July last year, on condition that they would launch a total of 500 taxicabs in Dhaka within four months. Of the taxies presently operating, 168 are Toma's and 99 are of the Trust.

Toma Cab's coordinator Saidur Rahman claims that all 250 of their taxicabs have arrived. Some are at the port and some are undergoing minor repairs. All of these will soon be on the streets.

Both the companies should be penalised for not meeting their commitments. On the contrary, the government has given into their demands for higher fares and extended area of service.

Kazi Abidus Samad, managing director of Trust Transport Services, says, "There are certain procedures involved in launching taxicabs and this is an on-going process. We are not sitting idle."

About the violations of the rules in hiring taxicabs over the phone, Abidus Samad says, "If you are in Mohakhali and the taxicab is in Gulshan, someone or the other will have to pay for that distance. This is taken from the passenger."

Lack of government initiative: Though Toma and the Army Welfare Trust failed to bring in the stipulated number of taxicabs in time, the ministry for road transport and bridges has taken no initiative to approach other companies. The ministry has a committee headed by additional secretary Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury for the appointment of a suitable company, but it has dispensed of its responsibility by just appointing these two firms.

It is alleged that Toma's managing director Ataur Rahman is a friend of Farid Uddin. After Toma was granted permission, the Army Welfare Trust submitted a letter of interest in this regard to BRTA. On special consideration, Trust was given permission for 250 taxicabs in Dhaka and 150 in Chittagong.

No further bids for taxicab companies were called for after that. Abdul Huq, former president of Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association and special advisor to Japanese investors in Bangladesh, says that the companies given the contract for running taxicabs are inexperienced. If the government had given more companies this responsibility, competition would increase and the people of Dhaka would benefit. The policy needs to be changed.