Experts calls to reduce metro rail fare by 30%

The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD), a planning and development research and policy analysis organisation, on Monday called on authorities to reduce metro rail fares by 30 per cent to make it more people friendly.

They came up with the suggestion at a virtual programme only two days before the country’s first metro rail is set to begin plying the capital from Uttara to Agargaon.

Speaking at the virtual event, IPD Executive Director Adil Mohammed Khan said, “Dhaka dwellers on average make 3.5-4 crore trips a day. The introduction of metro rail to make some of the trips faster is a landmark step.”

He said the authorities will need to monitor till next year to know the impact of metro rail on the capital’s communication system when the service will be expanded from Uttara to Motijheel.

He also said the fares of the metro rail should be affordable for common people because high fares will discourage passengers.

Besides, the IPD executive director also suggested that the authorities introduce a half-fare facility for students, fee waiver for children under five years.

Apart from this, he stressed on introducing a multi-media integrated communication system in the metro station and creating a pedestrian friendly environment around the station.

Also speaking on the occasion, Afsana Haque, a researcher on transit-oriented development, said 60 to 70 per cent people in the capital depend on public transport.

She said bus fares in the city are as low as Tk 2.5 per kilometre, but metro rail fares begin at Tk 20. Therefore, those who travel short distances may not be encouraged to use the metro rail.

An urban planner at Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Ashraful Islam said introduction of metro rail is encouraged if a city has a population of more than three million. In that aspect the new transportation service will be useful.

He also stressed on introducing bus services in an integrated manner along with metro rail to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

But he added that in order to get the full benefits of the metro rail service, there should be adequate car parking facilities at the stations.