Travelling on Dhaka Metro may pinch your pocket.
The Bangladesh government has fixed the minimum fare at Tk 20 -- that's Tk 5 per kilometre, more than double what you shell out for a bus ride (Tk 2.45 a kilometre) in the densely populated metropolis.
"The minimum metro fare has been fixed at Tk 20 and the maximum at Tk 100," said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
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"Commuters have to pay Tk 100 for a ride from Uttara to Motijheel as per kilometre fare has been fixed at Tk 5," the Minister told reporters after visiting the Uttara Metro Rail Depot.
However, those who will use weekly, monthly and family cards will enjoy special discounts while the wounded Freedom Fighters can travel free of cost, he said.
The government has set a December deadline to inaugurate the metro train service from Uttara to Agargaon. The remaining stretch of the metro -- from Agargaon to Motijheel -- will be unveiled next year.
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Bangladesh’s first metro rail on a 20.1 km-route from Uttara to Motijheel became completely visible on January 22 after the installation of the last girder of the viaduct.
The original length of the metro rail route was 20.1km from Uttara to Motijheel, but it has now been extended by 1.16km to Kamalapur Railway Station.