Commuters burdened with sitting service

Govt fixed Tk 1.70 per km as the bus fare in the Dhaka, Chittagong metropolitan areas, but transporters overcharge passengers in the name of sitting service

Most of the capital’s bus operators are overcharging passengers in the name of ‘sitting service’ in violation of rates fixed by the government. The sitting service is an arrangement created by the bus owners’ associations and not designed or regulated by existing rules. A middle-aged man was waiting outside the airport railway station yesterday for a bus that would drop him at Kakrail. Being new to the city he was unfamiliar with the capital’s transport system, and asked people about the bus that would take him to his destination. Finally, he managed to board a bus with the help of a youth. He knew that the fare from the airport to Kakrail was not more than Tk. 20 and offered to pay the money as the conductor approached. But the man asked him to pay Tk. 40, showing him a ticket of that sum.
“I am a teacher. I can’t let you do injustice by charging more,” the aged man said. “Sir, this is a sitting service bus and you have to pay the amount printed on the ticket,” said the conductor.  An altercation followed in which harsh words were exchanged. Other passengers slammed the conductor for his rude behaviour but that did not help reduce the fare for the harried traveller. He got down at the next stop at Khilket after learning that the bus he had boarded was one with a sitting service that not all buses offered. Transporters routinely overcharge passengers even though the government has fixed Tk. 1.70 per kilometre as the bus fare in the Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan area.
Commuters claimed the so-called sitting service was just a name that added no extra benefit compared to local and direct service buses. Over the last few years, buses flaunting ‘sitting service’ signs have become the most popular means of transport for commuters in the city. It is supposed to be a direct bus service aimed at reducing travel time with fewer stops and no standing passengers on board.  
According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regulations, a common fare applies to all buses as per the Motor Vehicle Act, which mentions two types of buses—the large 52-seaters and the 29-seater minibuses. The Act does not mention sitting service.
When challenged by passengers, bus drivers and their helpers have their own explanations to offer. “I am just doing my job and charging the amount I have been asked to charge,” a bus helper said. “We discourage passengers from boarding the bus after all the seats get filled up, but often they do not listen and get on,” said another. When asked whether there was any need for the sitting service in the capital, BRTA chairman said: “If you go to Japan, Korea or Italy you will often find commuters travelling standing inside buses. It is not essential to have sitting services in Dhaka. So, in the name sitting service people should not be charged Tk. 10 instead of Tk. 5.” “People who are involved in charging extra are being punished,” he added. When asked how the so-called sitting service buses were being allowed to plying on city roads, the member secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Regional Transport Committee (DMRTC) Masudul Alam Masud said:“We have no sitting services. A bus can take people from different stoppages if it has the capacity.” Observers say the authorities must monitor the trend of overcharging and passengers, too, should be cautious about boarding a bus that might overcharge them.

Commuters burdened with sitting service

Govt fixed Tk 1.70 per km as the bus fare in the Dhaka, Chittagong metropolitan areas, but transporters overcharge passengers in the name of sitting service

Most of the capitals bus operators are overcharging passengers in the name of sitting service in violation of rates fixed by the government. The sitting service is an arrangement created by the bus owners associations and not designed or regulated by existing rules. A middle-aged man was waiting outside the airport railway station yesterday for a bus that would drop him at Kakrail. Being new to the city he was unfamiliar with the capitals transport system, and asked people about the bus that would take him to his destination. Finally, he managed to board a bus with the help of a youth. He knew that the fare from the airport to Kakrail was not more than Tk. 20 and offered to pay the money as the conductor approached. But the man asked him to pay Tk. 40, showing him a ticket of that sum. I am a teacher. I cant let you do injustice by charging more, the aged man said. Sir, this is a sitting service bus and you have to pay the amount printed on the ticket, said the conductor. An altercation followed in which harsh words were exchanged. Other passengers slammed the conductor for his rude behaviour but that did not help reduce the fare for the harried traveller. He got down at the next stop at Khilket after learning that the bus he had boarded was one with a sitting service that not all buses offered. Transporters routinely overcharge passengers even though the government has fixed Tk. 1.70 per kilometre as the bus fare in the Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan area. Commuters claimed the so-called sitting service was just a name that added no extra benefit compared to local and direct service buses. Over the last few years, buses flaunting sitting service signs have become the most popular means of transport for commuters in the city. It is supposed to be a direct bus service aimed at reducing travel time with fewer stops and no standing passengers on board. According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regulations, a common fare applies to all buses as per the Motor Vehicle Act, which mentions two types of busesthe large 52-seaters and the 29-seater minibuses. The Act does not mention sitting service. When challenged by passengers, bus drivers and their helpers have their own explanations to offer. I am just doing my job and charging the amount I have been asked to charge, a bus helper said. We discourage passengers from boarding the bus after all the seats get filled up, but often they do not listen and get on, said another. When asked whether there was any need for the sitting service in the capital, BRTA chairman said: If you go to Japan, Korea or Italy you will often find commuters travelling standing inside buses. It is not essential to have sitting services in Dhaka. So, in the name sitting service people should not be charged Tk. 10 instead of Tk. 5. People who are involved in charging extra are being punished, he added. When asked how the so-called sitting service buses were being allowed to plying on city roads, the member secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Regional Transport Committee (DMRTC) Masudul Alam Masud said:We have no sitting services. A bus can take people from different stoppages if it has the capacity. Observers say the authorities must monitor the trend of overcharging and passengers, too, should be cautious about boarding a bus that might overcharge them.