Dhaka buses: 2 franchise routes in 7 days, full rollout in 6 months

The government has decided to launch franchise-based bus services on two Dhaka routes within seven working days, finalise franchises for 32 routes within two months, and make the system fully operational within six months.

The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat this afternoon.

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Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and bus owners' association have been tasked with implementing the route rationalisation plan.

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Under the system, one designated company will operate on each route and be responsible for vehicle fitness, discipline and legal compliance. Counter-based services, e-ticketing and GPS tracking are also planned.

DTCA Executive Director (Secretary) Mohammad Mashiur Rahman said 98 of Dhaka's 418 approved bus routes are operational, served by around 7,500 buses from 66 companies. The DTCA proposes reorganising them into 32 routes, around 70 percent of which correspond to existing routes.

According to DTCA, multiple operators on short and overlapping routes had created unhealthy competition, while unfit buses were contributing to accidents and congestion. The plan was based on surveys of more than 10,000 passengers' boarding and alighting points, the origins and destinations of more than 35,000 passengers, vehicle counts at 52 locations over 72 hours and drone footage covering around 400km of the network.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said a September 28 meeting with bus owners agreed on company-based operations and made operators responsible for ensuring vehicle fitness and legal compliance.

Bus owners have been given two months to complete necessary repairs, bodywork and repainting. Dilapidated buses that fail to meet the deadline may be taken off the road.

DTCA and DMP must send lists of bus stops and required improvements to the two city corporations within seven working days, with the corporations required to complete the upgrades within three months. Buses will have to pick up and drop off passengers only at designated stops.

The meeting also decided to assess DMP-proposed circular bus routes.

BRTC is purchasing electric buses, with eight routes proposed for their initial operation. DTCA will select routes in coordination with the BRTC and bus owners' association.

The meeting also discussed around 36,000 vehicles seized in various cases. As storage space is insufficient and abandoned vehicles are losing value, the authorities will amend relevant laws to expedite their disposal.

The prime minister's principal secretary, DMP commissioner and DMP additional commissioner (traffic) have been assigned responsibility for the matter.