BRTA recommends increasing bus fares by 80pc

The fare committee of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has recommended increasing the fares of all buses, including, inter-district bus services, by 80% as the vehicles are allowed to carry half passengers of the total seats to maintain social distancing amid Covid-19 outbreak.

The train fares will remain unchanged, according to sources at the Ministry of Railways.

The train and launch services will resume from Sunday and buses will be plying from Monday. 

The recommendation was made at a meeting of the BRTA's Expenditure Analysis Committee on Saturday.

BRTA Chairman Yusuf Ali Molla said, "Bus owners demanded to increase the fares by 100% as they would be allowed carry half of the passengers. But we recommended increasing 80% after reviewing everything. Now we will send the proposal to the ministry for taking final decision on the hike."

"Bus owners and workers will maintain the health security inside their vehicle. Besides, police and BRTA magistrates will be deployed at the terminals to take action against rule violators," he added.

Apart from BRTA officials, representatives of employers and workers were also present at the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, the government decided to allow public transports, including buses, trains and inland water vessels, to resume services from Sunday while abiding by social distancing rules and health directives.

On Friday, in separate meetings with transport owners on Friday, BRTA and BIWTA decided to resume public transports.