The World Bank (WB) has assured the government of providing financial support to bus rapid transit (BRT) project and suggested that some critical issues be resolved before starting negotiation with the Bank.
Of the issues, the WB has stressed on holding of negotiations with the existing bus operators including private sector to make them aware of the mass transport service and introduce a dedicated lane to play buses uninterrupted.
The Bank has also said the sooner the negotiation process begins the better the outcome would be from the project.
Sources said the World Bank in a recent letter to the Economic Relations Division, apprised the Bank's view on the BRT line-3 project based on its mission's review of the project.
"An initial social impact assessment conducted during preparation reveals that some groups affected by the project have expressed concern about the BRT project and may oppose it if their grievances are not properly addressed," WB Country Director Johannes Zutt said.
Expressing satisfaction at the BRT line-3 project, the WB country director, however, recommended coordination of the project with another BRT project being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to make the entire 40-kilometre BRT into a single BRT.
He recommended a joint BRT operation plan in order to achieve high-quality BRT service in the future.
The World Bank mission led by task team leader Ke Fang visited the country during August 24-31 and met the officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).
The mission also met the high officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to get an overview of the city's transport system.
Officials said the mission has also recommended to set up three project management units (PMUs) as soon as possible to carry out work on three different projects by this year.
According to the WB recommendation, the PMU at DTCA will be responsible to carry out related studies, transport management and operation while Roads and Highways Department (RHD) will look after construction and Dhaka City Corporation will perform other related works like footpath, bus terminal, etc.
The officials said the WB proposes to merge the BRT line-3 which is under the Strategic Transport Plan with the ADB-funded BRT as a single project, titled BRT L-3 North and South.
The ADB-funded BRT project has been planned from Gazipur to Airport. The detailed designing is in progress but it is not included in the STP. The BRT line-3 project is being processed to continue the line from Airport to Jhilmil project area.
Sources said the BRT projects face more challenges to construct multi-modal transport hub at Railway Airport Station and upgrade the capacity of Mohakhali long-distance bus terminal for using it as an interchange for the exclusive bus service.
However, the WB country director in his letter also said there is a need to execute core functions such as regulation on public transport, restructuring of bus routes and integration of transport fares with existing bus service, metro and BRT.
Sources said though the PMUs are supposed to be completed by September as the WB's next mission is due to arrive in November, there is no visible progress in this regard.
smunima@yahoo.com
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