No initiative to import CNG-run auto-rickshaws

The government is yet to take any initiative to import CNG-run auto-rickshaw for replacing three-wheelers whose lifespan has already expired, a rights group has said.

Even the government has extended the lifetime of 26,652 auto-rickshaws by three months, saying time is required to import new three-wheelers to give respite to passengers, they added.

They also fear that any inaction to import CNG-run auto-rickshaw by the government will ultimately result in permission to import them by private sector importers, which will increase the price of vehicles leading to public sufferings.

"The government extended the lifespan of 26,652 CNG-run auto-rickshaws. Of them, the lifespan of 7,459 three-wheelers expired in December 2017 and that of the rest will expire by 31 December 2018. They extended the time for three months, saying time should be given to import new CNGs to reduce public sufferings and for fitness test by BUET," Ashish Kumar Dey, general secretary of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), told the FE recently.

He said the government has not yet taken any move to import CNG-run auto-rickshaws. Last year the owners applied for extending the lifetime of 26,652 vehicles, which were imported during the 2002-03 period for six years.

Earlier, they had extended the lifespan of auto-rickshaws from nine years to 15 years in three phases. This time various quarters, including CNG-auto-rickshaw drivers have staged protest against 'ill-motivated' move.

"In the first phase, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will test fitness of 7,459 CNGs whose lifespan expired in 2017," Mr Ashish said.

It seems not more than one per cent of those CNGs is fit for plying, BUET sources said.

Mr Ashish said the delay of the ministry in importing auto-rickshaw will increase the price as it is apprehended that the government will give permission to import those at the last minute by the private sector.

At present, the government has fixed the price of an auto-rickshaw at less than Tk 0.8 million. Import by private sector will make a lot of difference in price, he added.

The passengers now suffer as 85 per cent of the CNG-autos does not ply on meter. Passengers have to pay excess fare due to high price of the vehicles, extortion by police and administration and high deposit rate by the drivers.

When contacted, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) director (operation) Muhammad Showkat Ali said BRTA has designated BUET for fitness test. They are late in submitting their report. That's why the government has extended time as an interim measure.

Regarding import, he said the government is neither owner nor importer of auto-rickshaw. It is the private sector importers who import CNG-auto-rickshaw. The government also does not have any control over the price of CNG-auto-rickshaws, he added.

Ashish Kumar Dey said the authority is just escaping its responsibility. "By allowing the private sector importers to import CNGs and having no control over price, it is obvious that they are creating scope for the private importers to make hefty profits out of this business."

[email protected]