Bus route franchise piloting from Dec 01

DTCA has drafted interim policy

MUNIMA SULTANA | Published: October 09, 2021 23:15:49

The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has drafted an interim policy to pilot the bus route franchise (BRF) service from Ghatarchar to Katchpur from December 01.
Sources said the 'BRF Piloting Policy 2021' would help the owners of over 120 buses to operate under a joint-venture agreement which is contrary to the BRF norm.
The DTCA has, however, drafted another policy for running the BRF in real concept.
But it has been kept aside to avoid conflicts as it would be hard to convince owners to comply with various conditions from the beginning, the sources added.
"Actually, the BRF norm in real sense is not possible to implement from day one for lack of infrastructure, buses and systems. Even mindset of all stakeholders need to be changed," according to a source.
The government initiated the BRF system as per the recommendation of the Strategic Transport Plan-2015 during mayor Annisul Haque's time.
But his untimely death forced the government to form a special 10-member BRF committee, led by Dhaka south city mayor, on 09 September 2018.
However, the committee, which has so far sat 18 times, proposed to pilot the service after selecting the Ghatarchar-Katchpur route from the green cluster.
It started working after a study that recommended bringing the city's more than 400 routes under six clusters on various colours.
In early 2019, the 21-kilometre route was selected from the five proposed routes under green cluster which was rationalised from existing 13 routes.
Some 207 minibuses/buses are now operating under three companies on the piloted route.
However, official sources said the joint-venture deal was proposed on an interim basis as infrastructure like ticket counter, automated ticketing system, bus bay and clearing house service are yet to be introduced fully.
But they said the drafted interim policy has also given some guidelines as a preparation to create an environment as behaviour of passengers, drivers and owners should be compatible with the system.
Besides, the policy guides some basic services like bus route permit, fitness and stop at bus bays to bring a shift from the traditional system.
But the main BRF policy, which the DTCA is yet to share with stakeholders, has clearly directed the formation of the company under the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Company and Firm and guidelines to operate the BRF within and outside the city along.
It will have a guideline on ticketing service, bus bay and bus shade, profit-sharing system and role of the government under the BRF in details to bring discipline in the mass transport system.
smunima@yahoo.com