Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has taken a move to revive the initiative taken by former DNCC mayor Annisul Huq to introduce company-based buses in the city, sources said.
As part of the move, they said, DTCA has planned to launch bus service on one route out of five as proposed by the ex-DNCC (Dhaka North City Corporation) mayor. The decision to launch 'BusNET' on one route on a pilot basis was taken as it would be time-consuming and challenging to start franchise service on all routes as per the mayor's plan, they added.
Earlier, DTCA wanted to carry out all necessary activities in forming six bus companies through negotiations with all stakeholders under the leadership of the DNCC mayor.
The former mayor was able to bring all stakeholders including bus operators to the negotiating table and came to an agreement with them to merge over 270 routes into six routes under route-based companies.
Though Annisul Huq had also initiated a move to get an accepted business model to replace old buses and launch 4,000 new buses in the city, it remained stopped after he fell sick in August last.
Official sources said the DTCA now wants to revive the initiative taken to carry out preparatory work for setting up the institution under the model of bus route franchise (BRF) to launch BusNET on one route.
"Institutional setup is a must to ensure proper functioning of BusNet in the city," said a senior official concerned. The former mayor preferred purchasing buses to institutional setup, he added.
In the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP), a 20-year transport plan for the greater Dhaka city, the authority proposed launching BusNET on the routes for bringing disciplines in the city. It also made proposal to withdraw all passenger vehicles from the city and stop competition among bus operators on the streets.
Under a World Bank-funded project, DTCA conducted a study on bus route rationalisation. Recently it also completed a study on institutional development.
DTCA executive director Syed Ahmed said BusNEt can be introduced on a route on a shoestring budget. Cooperation from all agencies concerned can speed up the process of implementing the pilot route, he added.
The number of buses, spaces for stations and bus bay are to be worked out, he told the FE.
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