Circular bus route in Old Dhaka from this month: DSCC mayor
A circular BRTC bus service will begin operation in Old Dhaka from the last week of this month, said Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday.
Addressing a press briefing at Nagar Bhaban after a meeting of Bus Route Retionalisation steering committee, the mayor said the route will be from Sadarghat to Rampura via Staff Quarter and Dholaikhal.
He said they have taken the decision to ensure smooth vehicular movement in Old Dhaka.
“This route will be inaugurated on an experimental basis, and if the result is good, it will be continued,” said Khokon.
Responding to a question on bus route rationalisation and bringing all bus companies under six companies, Khokon said piloting of the service will start by next year.
“The progress was slowed down due to engagement of committee members with the national polls and dengue crisis,” said Khokon.
“But we can finalise 20-22 routes for operating modern buses under franchised companies by March next year, as the consultant company is working smoothly,” he added.
The DSCC mayor chaired the 11th meeting of the 13-member coordination committee on Bus Route Franchise yesterday. The special committee has been working to launch the bus service by 2020, to bring discipline in Dhaka’s transport system.
The committee was formed on September 9, 2018 following directives from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
But the committee did not set the bus routes and number of franchise bus companies yet due to reluctance of bus owners, according to sources.
Sayeed Khokon said, “The committee will sit in a meeting with top transport sector leaders within this month to revise the bus routes in Dhaka, and to bring over 100 bus routes under 20-22 routes.”
Among others, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, BRTA Chairman Dr Kamrul Ahsan, BRTC Chairman Ehsan Alahi and transport expert Dr SM Saleh Uddin also attended the meeting.
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