How justified CNG drivers’ move is?

Redwan Ahmed
CNG-run auto-rickshaw owner and workers’ unions of Dhaka and Chittagong have called a strike to pressurize the policy makers to comply with their eight-point demands that include imposing ban on app-based ride services like Uber and Pathao.The auto-rickshaw drivers, locally known as “CNG drivers”, will hold the strike on 27 and 28 November in Dhaka. In a recent presser, the union leaders threatened to go on an indefinite strike in both Dhaka and Chittagong if their demands are not met by January 15, 2018.The drivers claim that app-based transportation (from page 1 )
services are causing them severe damage. They can hardly get enough trips now a day. And it is becoming impossible to earn enough in a day to pay for the owner’s cut and save their own wage. Many complain that the government is favoring the Uber and Pathao. The services are not allowed to function under current regulations. Drivers expressed their frustration and anger and said that if app-based services are allowed to run, all CNG auto-rickshaws would die.
However, many think “CNG drivers” are considering a wrong community as their enemy. And it is not a new mistake made by them. Dwellers of the two metropolises are facing this issue since the inception of CNGs. Just before the app-based services became popular, the “CNG drivers” of the capital had quite an attitude. First challenge was to make any driver willing to go the destination a passenger wanted to go. Than, the haggling. Despite the regulation, most CNG auto-rickshaws hardly followed meter. They used to ask almost double, in some cases triple of that the journey would actually cost.
Almost every passenger who traveled in those auto-rickshaws has bitter experiences like these. Many compared this scenario as a “hostage situation.” Because in situations when someone is taking patients to a hospital, or going to catch a bus or train – the drivers would never miss the opportunity to utilize their vulnerabilities, asking higher than the usual fare. The mobile application-based on-demand cars and motorbikes services have emerged as a great rescuer in this context. You just tap-open the app, type your destination and the car or motorcycle comes at your doorstep. The facility of “upfront fare” estimates a probable cost of the journey to avoid bill-shock. It’s that friendly!
When the news of the strike broke, the response from the netizens wasn’t shocking. Most of them are in “favor” of the strike, in a sarcastic way. Guess what, many demanded this strike to last forever! They think this kind of strike is necessary to make the CNG-three wheeler syndicate understand that their arbitrary regime actually has come to an end. The CNG-drivers are no more in position to dictate terms; the control is now on the consumers’ hands.
However, it also warrants a bigger concern for the government to keep the balance. There are thousands of families just in the Dhaka city who rely on the income from driving this vehicle. We can not just abandon them. The stakeholders of the CNG-run-auto rickshaws have to understand that as technology improves day by day, the app-based vehicle services will become more popular. There is still a big niche market for the three-wheelers. Uber gives passengers a healthy vehicle, equipped with air-conditioner and protection from the noise and pollution, but still costs more than legitimate CNG-scooter fare. And a wide number of elderly citizens and not so tech-savvy people would still prefer walking to a CNG auto rickshaw. So if they want to survive, they have to be competitive. Otherwise, it’ll be very difficult.“CNG-drivers” themselves identified many major causes behind recent loss in the reputation of three-wheeler service including unfit and outdated vehicles, higher owner’s cut and few others. In fact, they have the enemy within their syndicate. So instead of causing more sufferings to the mass, the CNG-run auto-rickshaw owner and workers’ unions should fight against their enemies within themselves.
It is high time to rethink about the countries over-all public transportation system. And everyone already knows about the problems. Everyone should aim getting a proper plan to develop and execute a detailed and effective solution to keep the cities running. Developing a mass rapid transport system, getting rid of the unfit vehicles from the road, operational traffic-lighting could be a good start.