DHAKA: A handful number of new taxicabs will begin plying on the city thoroughfares from Pahela Baishakh (April 14) with an excessive fare that would usually remain out of general peoples’ ability to ride.

Ministry of Communication in coordination with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) gave approval of 250 taxicabs to Toma Construction & Company Limited and another company each to run on the city roads.

An inter-ministerial meeting held on March 23 approved an exorbitant fare – Tk 34 per kilometer – for the cab riding. Regarding the matter, a circular would be issued after the approval of Communication Minister Obaidul Quader.

The minister was scheduled to visit BRTA office in capital’s Tejgaon area at 10:30am to see the new cabs.

That means government had approved the fare proposed by the companies without knowledge about ins and outs of the taxicabs.

City dwellers alleged that the government brought the ‘new gift’ to do pick pocket of the people during the Pahela Baishakh celebration.

The low-quality vehicles are made by Japanese Toyota Company and which price ranges from 15 lakhs to 20 lakhs.

Toma Group Managing Director Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan told banglanews “Our vehicles have reached the port and those will be released within March 30.”

About the fare, Ataur said we proposed TK 150 for first two kilometer-ride and TK 60 per kilometer then but government fixed TK 100 and TK 34 respectively instead.

“The government fixed fare is below than the proposed fare it should be increased more,” he claimed.

Passengers have to pay Tk 8 per minute as waiting charge.

Taking accounting the new fare, a cab passenger would have to cost around Tk 1,200 for a ride from Mirpur to Motijheel or from Motijheel to Uttara or Mohammadpur to Bashundhara, if he trapped in the regular traffic jam of the city.

So, a regular cab rider will have to pay around Tk 30,000 monthly.

BDST: 1243 HRS, MAR 27, 2014