IPD recommends reducing metro rail fare by 30%

The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) on Monday recommended reducing metro rail fare by 30% to make this service more pro-people and effective.

IPD made the recommendation at a virtual event titled “Metro rail in the sustainable plan of capital: Perspective and way outs.”

Addressing the event, IPD executive director professor Adil Mohammed Khan said there are 30-40 million daily trips in Dhaka and the launch of metro rail as part of faster trip is an epoch-making initiative.

Prof. Adil Mohammed Khan emphasized that the metro rail fare should be within the affordability of common people. Because, if the fare is high, passengers will not be available as expected.

Adil Muhammad Khan on behalf of IPD suggested half fare for students, fee waiver for children under five years apart from reduction in fares.

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.

At the event, Afsana Haque, a communications expert and Metrorail-related Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project consultant, said that 60-70 percent of Dhaka's people use public transport.

Among public transport, bus fares are as low as Tk 2.5 per kilometer, but metro rail fares are as low as Tk 20. Therefore, those traveling short distances may not be encouraged to use the metro, he added.

IPD advisor professor Akter Mahmud said people cannot expect that traffic situation will ease in Dhaka city by the launch of the lone metro rail service.

The first-ever metro rail service in the country will go on operation in Dhaka on Wednesday, with a trip from Uttara to Aagargaon.