The government has constituted a 10-member committee, headed by Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sayeed Khohan, to work on the introduction of a bus operating system under a limited number of companies in Dhaka city.
Late Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Annisul Huq mooted the idea of new system to ensure discipline in traffic movement and reduce the nagging traffic jam in the capital city.
A notification, signed by the President, was issued to this effect Sunday.
Annis had suggested introducing the company-based bus services dividing the populous city into six routes soon after assuming the mayoralty.
Following meetings with stakeholders and transport experts, a draft was shared with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to operate and manage a modern bus system.
DNCC panel mayor, chairmen of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner are the members of the new committee.
Other members are transport expert Dr SM Saleh Uddin, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association secretary general and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation president.
The executive director of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) will act as the member secretary of the committee.
According to the notification, the team will work on the introduction of a bus operating system under a limited number of companies.
It will also work on the rationalisation of routes to bring discipline and reduce traffic jams in the city.
The committee will draw up a road map and a timely work plan in this regard.
It will update the PMO, the local government department and road transport and highways division on the progress on a regular basis.
Dr Uddin, who is on both the committees, told the FE that the number of routes, operating system, business model and financing were drafted earlier. Training and management modules of bus companies were also incorporated in the proposal.
According to the draft, all the buses in the city will operate under six companies on six routes with six different colours.
Several bus terminals, including a central city terminal and four inter-district terminals outside the city, were proposed.
It was proposed to form a specialised bus transport authority and transport academy to train transport experts and operators.
A financing model was also proposed to replace the shabby, worn-out ones the new and modern buses.
To make things happen, loan support at single-digit interest rate was also recommended.
smunima@yahoo.com