All private public transports, operating in Dhaka Metropolis areas, would be brought under a new regulation for a more efficient, discipline, safe and secured public bus services.
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said that the bus route rationalization activities will come into effect within next year which he hopes to bring major changes in modernizing the city’s public bus services.
The implementation of the bus route rationalization will bring discipline in public transport and reduce traffic congestion as well as improve the quality of transport services in the capital.
Mayor Taposh expressed this hope while addressing the 13th meeting of the ‘Bus Route Rationalization’ committee at Buriganga Hall of Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday.
The DSCC Mayor said, “A preliminary report (Bus Service, Route Restructuring and Clustering Report) has been submitted, which we have thoroughly reviewed. At present 2500 bus owners are operating buses in 291 routes in Dhaka city. According to preliminary proposal, these buses will run under 22 companies and 291 routes will be reduced to only 42.”
“If this proposal is implemented, the current bus owners will become shareholders of the companies,” he added.
Taposh also said, “Inter-district buses will no longer be allowed to enter the Dhaka metropolis areas through the implementation of bus route rationalization. Passengers will travel to their destinations using City Service or MRT or service provider vehicles from those terminals. This will reduce the traffic pressure on Dhaka city.”
Mentioning the next date of the meeting of the committee convened on December 8, the Mayor said, “The committee members in collaboration with the DTCA will discuss among themselves and thoroughly analyze the report. Then, the committee will further define the proposed cluster routes.”
About Mohakhali and Gabtali bus terminal under North City Corporation and Sayedabad bus terminal under DSCC, he said, “There is no space for the buses in these terminals. Due to this, drivers use roadside for parking and it creates big traffic jam. A full survey proposed by DTCA for the inter-district bus terminal will be completed by next March. Then, we will take our activities to the next step.”
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam connected at the meeting through online and expressed his views.
Among the members of the committee, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha Chairman Md Sayeed Noor Alam, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder, DMP Police Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Bus Route Rationalization Committee Member Secretary and DTCA Executive Director Khandaker Rakibur Rahman, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Khandaker Enayet Ullah, were also present at the meeting.
