'Seating service' buses to run two more months
Amid widespread allegations that bus operators were charging extra fare in the name of “seating service”, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) yesterday once again extended the suspension of a special drive against the service in Dhaka for two more months.
The decision was taken at a meeting of an eight-member committee at BRTA head office. The committee, which was earlier designated to make recommendations for quality passenger services in mass transport sector in Dhaka, could not finalise its proposals yet, said Mahbub-E-Rabbani, director (road safety) of BRTA, after the scheduled meeting.
“Drive against 'seating service' buses will remain suspended for two more months and tenure of the committee has been extended for next two months,” Mahbub-E-Rabbani, also head of the committee, told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, most of the members of the committee opined in favour of "seating service" alongside regular services “considering benefit of passengers", three members told The Daily Star.
Journalist Syed Ishtiaq Reza, a member of the committee, said the reality of Dhaka city demands both “seating” and “non-seating” services.
“We have given opinion in favour of mixed services. But more discussion is needed on how many 'seating service' buses should be allowed to ply and what should be the routes and fares, among other issues. Besides, relevant law has to be changed for introducing the service,” he said.
According to the draft proposal, all buses of an operator should not be allowed to run under "seating service" and the number of such buses can be determined by the authorities concerned.
Colour of the buses will be different and the government can set separate fare for these buses, the proposal reads. Moreover, the total route of every "seating service" bus will be divided into several slabs and fare will be determined on the basis of each slab.
The meeting also discussed on several other proposals including rearranging the bus routes in Dhaka city and bringing all bus services under some companies.
The other proposals include not giving route permit to private companies anymore. Instead, more BRTC and AC buses should be introduced in the city.
“All the members will work on the proposals now; after finalising, we will submit those to the [road transport and bridges] ministry. We are hopeful about completing our tasks within September,” said Syed Ishtiaq.
As per their earlier announcement, transport owners on April 15 stopped operating "seating service" amid widespread allegations that the bus authorities were charging extra fare.
Following that, BRTA, in association with Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association's vigilance teams, conducted mobile courts to stop such practice.
But the move backfired as a good number of buses were withdrawn from the streets for five consecutive days, causing immense sufferings to commuters.
Against the backdrop, BRTA suspended their drive for 15 days and later for three months. It also formed the eight-member committee.
But, during suspension of BRTA drive, bus operators continued charging extra fares defying government-fixed rate, alleged commuters.
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