Commuters suffer as transports carrying 50 percent passengers

City dwellers, mostly the office goers have to face enormous suffering as public transports are not carrying more than 50 percent of its passengers capacity in the capital from Wednesday morning following the government instruction.

In addition to carrying half of its capacity, public transports also increased the fare by 60 percent.

Most of the passengers were seen walking for their destinations as buses were not stopped at the bus stoppages because there were no seats available.

The buses were seen carrying 50 percent of passengers in almost every area surrounding the capital.

Especially in the morning, the office goers had to face such embarrassment as many could not get on the bus even after standing for a long time.

Hasina Begum, an agitated commuter at Dhanmondi 32, said, “Everyone is rushing to one or two empty seats as soon as the bus arrives. But women employees like ours are not able to get in the bus even after standing for a long time.”

Meanwhile, many agitated city dwellers have blocked Airport road in the Khilkhet area protesting the government decision and hike of bus fare.

Earlier, the government had imposed the same initiative of carrying half the passengers’ capacity of the public transport and increased the fare by 60 percent from May 31 to September last year.

ARR