The auto rickshaw dilemma: Last-mile lifeline or grid-draining liability? 07.05.2026

The article highlights a critical gap in Dhaka's urban transport system: the lack of integrated "last-mile" connectivity between mass transit hubs like the MRT Line-6 and passengers' final destinations. While billions have been invested in the metro, which carries approximately 350,000 passengers daily, over 43 percent of users rely on informal transport like battery-run three-wheelers, known as "easy bikes," to reach stations. These unregulated three-wheelers, numbering over 10 lakh in Dhaka alone, provide a vital service for 10 lakh drivers and countless neighborhoods but contribute to traffic congestion, road accidents, and significant power theft estimated at Tk 4,000 crore annually due to illegal charging points. A draft policy aims to regulate these vehicles, but implementation remains a challenge. The author argues for an integrated multimodal mobility framework, treating feeder services as essential components of the mass transit network, drawing parallels with successful models in neighboring countries.















