In absence of a stopover terminal for buses, some important intersections in the city's busy business areas, including Zero Point and Fulbaria, are getting almost inoperative due to congestion during peak and off peak hours, according to a study.
It said more than 100 buses are parked for the highest 43 minutes on roadsides in between two consecutive trips starting from 6.00 am, creating long queues of vehicles in these areas every day.
Among the intersections, Fulbari and Zero Point get packed with buses plying inter-city routes. These are the focal points of several bus routes passing through the entire capital, the study said.
The study, conducted by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), showed that the buses pay bribes or fines etc on a regular basis for staying on the roadside for making a stoppage for the next trip.
DTCA conducted the study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Stopover City Bus Terminal in the city, as different bus operators have long been demanding Nimtoli for such purpose.
DTCA board members in different meetings agreed to turn Nimtoli Babupara area, owned by Bangladesh Railway (BR), into a stopover terminal. But it could not be implemented due to legal complications.
The BUET study findings were shared with all stakeholders on Tuesday. Official sources said the meeting decided to take necessary steps by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to turn the 3.97-acres area into a city stopover bus terminal.
They, however, said BR is yet to overcome the legal barriers in this regard, as different quarters, who have grabbed various parts of Nimtoli area, have lodged cases against the state-owned rail operator.
The study found Nimtoli as an attractive stopover space and proposed to set up a multistoried and multipurpose terminal there, having a total of 721,397 square feet area. It would be a 20-minute stopover place for 84 buses.
The study also said the buses, parked illegally on roadside, move on an average to 12 directions after waiting for 20-40 minutes each. The highest of 43 buses are parked there from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm, while 32 buses from 6.00 am to 7.00 am.
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