PM opens Army Welfare Trust taxicab service

While launching the taxicab project of the Trust Transport Service under the Army Welfare Trust at Army Golf Club here this morning, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to fix the fare of the taxicab for the first two kilometres at Taka 85 instead of Taka 100.

"The people would start using this type of taxicab if they hear that the fare has been lowered. On the other hand, the companies concerned won't incur losses if the fare is reduced by Taka 1015," she said.

"It would be better for all if the fare of first two kilometre is fixed at Taka 85 instead of Taka 100," she said and observed that the people are ready to spend extra money in the interest of safe and comfortable journey.

She hoped that the Army Welfare Trust would make efforts to earn confidence of the people by ensuring their safe and comfortable journey.

"I also hope that this project of the Trust would be successful through maintaining its high quality discipline, organizational capacity and integrity as well as relentless efforts," she added.

Communication Minister Obaidul Quader, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of Army Welfare Trust General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan and Chairman of Trust Transport Services Major General AKM Mujahid Uddin also spoke at the function.

Mentioning that taxicab is an essential service in all developed countries of the world, Sheikh Hasina said the people, especially foreign tourists, depend on the taxicabs for safe and comfortable journey inside the cities.

But, she said, the people of Dhaka city have been depriving of this essential service as the service was inadequate. Due to inadequate taxicab service in the capital, she said, it was not possible to attract tourists in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister extended her thanks to all concerned including the communication ministry and Army Welfare Trust for launching comfortable and safe taxicab service.

About the use of octane in the taxicab, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh will immensely benefit from it as the country produces surplus octane every year.

"Octane is a by-product of petrol and we produce surplus octane every year after meeting the country's demand. We also export octane," she said, adding that cars remain good if those are run by octane.

Sheikh Hasina said a number of projects have earlier been given to Bangladesh Army to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and materialize the Vision 2021.

"Our army has already implemented some successful projects including important roads, flyovers and the eye-catching Hatirjheel Project to make Dhaka city livable by increasing civic amenities and beautification," she said.

She said the Army Welfare Trust has been conducting various commercial activities with an aim of generating employment for
distressed army members as well as overall welfare for the people.

"Like other commercial organizations, its main goal is not earning profit. Rather, its activities are run centering socialresponsibilities," she said, adding its activities have already
earned praises of all.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken massive programmes to build Dhaka as a modern and traffic jam-free city.

Under the strategic transport plan (STP), she said, various initiatives including construction of flyovers, elevated expressway, underground tunnel and ring road and waterway around the Dhaka city and introduction of commuter trains have been undertaken.

She said the work of the much-awaited metro rail project would begin soon as all relevant works of the mega project have been completed.

The Prime Minister said the beauty of Dhaka city has gone up to a great extent thanks to implementation of Hatirjheel Development Project and Dhanmondi Lake Project.

She also mentioned different steps of the government for improvement of traffic system and ensuring smooth movement of the people. "The measures included introduction of articulated bus and special bus service for school students and women and preservation of seats for the people with disability," she said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister formally launched the taxi cab service through handing over three dummy keys of the taxicabs to three selected drivers.

The Trust Transport Services will initially operate in the capital 27 taxi cabs of minimum 1500 cc engine of Premio, Allion, Probox and Axio models purchased from Japan's Toyota automobile manufacturer company.

Another private organization, Toma Group, will also operate the same kind of 19 air-conditioned taxicabs preliminarily. The two companies would operate 600 taxi cabs in Dhaka and Chittagong.

All the taxi cabs will have most sophisticated technological facilities including GPS system, vehicle tracking system and wireless to track and trace the cabs of this type running in the country.

The fare has earlier been fixed at Tk 100 for the first 2km, Tk 34 for each subsequent km, and Tk 8.5 for two minutes' wait for air- conditioned cabs. For non-AC ones, it is Tk 50, Tk 20 and Tk 5 respectively.