Various initiatives have been undertaken at different times with the aim of bringing discipline and dynamism to the transport system and public life in the capital city of Dhaka.
As part of these continuing efforts, a groundbreaking decision has recently been taken to operate 861 buses under seven companies with the objective of making Dhaka's transport system more people-friendly.
It is hoped that this new initiative will put an end to the anarchy, unhealthy competition, and disorder that have long plagued public transportation in Dhaka.
Essentially, under the Bus Route Rationalization programme, seven new routes have been introduced to reduce traffic congestion in the capital, with company-operated bus services commencing on Sunday, November 1.
The programme was formally inaugurated on that day at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. According to the plan of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), 861 buses will initially operate on seven routes.
Air-conditioned buses will also operate on some routes. The routes are as follows: Shib Bari in Gazipur to Azimpur (VIP City Transport); Tongi to Azimpur (Dhaka City Transport); Mirpur Zoo to Chunkutia in Keraniganj (Zoo City Transport); Ghatar Char to Demra; Ghatar Char to Kanchpur; Ghatar Char to Dhowr; and designated buses operated by specific companies on the designated circular routes.
It is worth mentioning that, under the new system, buses will be required to follow designated routes and stop at designated stops.
A list of stops must be displayed on every bus. Drivers and other staff members will be required to wear clean uniforms and behave courteously towards passengers. Picking up or dropping off passengers anywhere other than designated stops will be prohibited.
Moreover, buses will not be allowed to wait at stops longer than the prescribed time in order to pick up additional passengers. They will also be prohibited from obstructing the movement of other vehicles on the road or overtaking illegally.
To facilitate passengers, there are plans to assign different colours to buses operating on different routes so that passengers can easily identify the buses serving their respective routes.
The DTCA has stated that the entire bus network of the capital will gradually be brought under a modern and well-organized system. As part of this initiative, designated bus stops, electronic ticketing, and GPS tracking systems will soon be introduced on all these buses.
We welcome and appreciate this initiative. However, it must be noted in this context that several attempts have previously been made to modernize our public transportation system, but ultimately, they have failed.
Many promising initiatives have ended in failure after only a short period of time. We therefore hope that the initiatives being undertaken anew will be sustained and remain effective in the long run.
We believe that disorder in bus ownership and the widespread practice of picking up and dropping off passengers indiscriminately have crippled the traffic management system of the capital for a long time.
Frequent accidents occur because buses stop at random locations and drivers are subjected to excessive pressure in the name of the leasing system. As a result, passengers have to endure immense suffering.
If the new regulations eliminate unhealthy competition and ensure that buses operate on designated routes under specific companies, we may finally be able to escape such difficulties.
In addition, the new regulations may pave the way for improving the living standards of drivers and transport workers by ensuring fixed salaries, allowances, and other benefits.
However, merely formulating policies will not be sufficient; their proper implementation and regular monitoring must also be ensured. Both owners and workers must respect the law and work sincerely to make commuting safe and comfortable for city residents.
Particular emphasis should be placed on encouraging the use of information technology in the public transportation system. Drivers and their assistants should be made more skilled and passenger-friendly through appropriate education, training, and motivation.
If our public transportation system becomes more disciplined and developed, it will not only create extensive employment opportunities for the younger generation but also accelerate the process of building a developed and prosperous nation.
