Seating-service or no seating-service bus?

There is no such thing as seating-service bus in the city. No bus company has obtained licence as such. But then there are buses on the body of which is displayed in bold letters 'seating service'. Quite a number of companies operate such seating-service buses. But if the primary criterion of this type of service is no provision for picking up passengers beyond seat capacity, not a single company qualifies for the title.

Some of the bus companies have pasted some written instructions inside their buses, seeking passengers' cooperation in maintaining their seating-service status. They have even given contact numbers so that passengers can feel free to complain against drivers and conductors. Experience from such attempts cannot be said to have been highly encouraging.

The fact is anarchy reigns supreme in the city's transport sector. Companies are adding vehicles -not always new and ideally suitable -to their fleets. This is an indication that the transport business here is profitable because the operators have formed a powerful nexus. With many agencies and parasite-like parties waiting for gobbling up a share of the benefits, their coalition is a determinant of their existence. So they also look for avenues to maximise their profits. This explains the lingering chaos.

Or, else nine months would not have passed without finalisation of the policy guidelines for seating service. At the beginning of May last year, all seating-service buses were instructed to operate as local. The so-called sitting-service companies took their vehicle off the road in protest. Extending three months' time for provisional operation, an eight-member committee was formed to recommend if seating services could be continued or not. On October 15, the committee submitted its report, recommending 26 points of its observations. But so far, the policy guideline shows no sign of becoming operational.

In the meantime, passengers are becoming losers. They are not getting an improved service but are compelled to part with unapproved fares -- of course much higher than the rate fixed by the authorities. All seating buses resort to a number of ploys in order to carry standing passengers. But when it comes to enhanced fare, the usual plea conductors come up with is that there are checkers who have signed the 'way bill' so the passenger must pay the minimum Tk 10 as fair. A few bus operated like any other bus, picking passengers anywhere and everywhere, cramming inside also advance the pretext of way bill. Why? Arguments and counterarguments go on, tempers flare and where there are a few hot-headed bullies, scuffles and physical assaults cannot be ruled out. This has now become a regular picture on board the public buses in the capital.

How disgraceful! People cannot travel by bus in peace. Either one has to swallow one's pride or act like a ruffian. These cannot be the option open to a law-abiding citizen. The authorities should be ashamed of its failure to act on the recommendations at hand. The road transport and bridges minister's assertion almost three months back that a decision would be arrived at within a week did not also materialise. Now it is all uncertain.

This cannot be acceptable to passengers for an indefinite time. Transport operators are fleecing passengers all the same without giving the latter the service of their own declaration. Already bus fares realised from passengers were higher than the recommended rate of Tk 1.70 and 1.60 for buses and mini-buses respectively. The plea of seating service has been used only to raise those a few notches up. Such anarchy has the potential to explode into flares.