By Lamin Fatty
[Basse, 13th February, 2023] Commercial drivers in the Upper River Region North have not stopped collecting ten dalasis (D10) from passengers who cross over the bridges as toll fee. The commuters on the other hand are complaining about the conduct of the drivers for not respecting the government approved new transport tariffs.
This reporter visited the leadership of the drivers plying from Basse to the northern part of the region – Wulli East, West and Sandu to get their perspective.
Hammeh Jatta, who spoke to the Foroyaa on behalf of his fellow drivers, said they are adhering to the newly approved transport fares. He added that they have a difference with the others which is the bridge toll which is an addition and not captured by the new tariffs.
“We added D10 on top of the government approved fares as we are paying the bridge toll for our every trip” he said.
He explained that crossing the bridge is not free. Jatta said they add D10 to every destination because of the bridge.
The drivers said if the Government does not allow them to continue collecting D10 from commuters they will move the car park from Basse and take it to the northern side where they won’t pay bridge tolls.
Currently the car park is situated in Basse town. The position of the drivers is if they are stopped collecting the bridge tolls they will move the car park to somewhere after the bridge – Basse Badala.
“That will not be in the interest of the commuters. This is because they will have to pay extra fares to get to the car park,” he said.
Elsewhere in KMC, drivers continue to collect multiple fares from commuters for one-trip journeys. Foroyaa published an article about two weeks ago.
