The capital is likely to get modern buses on 22 routes under six companies by the end of next year through withdrawal of hundreds of shabby buses from the city streets.
A time-bound plan with the target of providing improved commuter service was placed during a meeting of the special committee on bus route franchise, headed by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon, on Wednesday.
The DSCC mayor chaired the sixth meeting of the 10-member committee at Nagar Bhaban. The committee was formed on September 9 following directives of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for introducing BusNet by franchising bus routes.
According to the time-bound plan, consultants will be appointed by this June, and formation of the bus management and operation companies will start from January next.
While briefing journalists after the meeting, the mayor said the target has been fixed to commemorate 'Mujib Borsho' in the year 2020, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"We have formally launched the process of forming six bus companies on routes identified with numbers, targeting to bring discipline on the streets and give respite to commuters."
He said franchise-based city bus routes will ensure better commuter service at reasonable fares for the citizens.
Sayeed Khokon also said the meeting agreed to launch the second circular bus service in Motijheel area by the end of this month (April). The 7-8 kilometre-long service will cover points like Khilgaon Flyover, TT Para, Kamlapur, Arambag, Dainik Bangla crossing, Motijheel and Gulistan.
Besides, circular bus service will be launched in Uttara area by early May.
A committee will also work to recommend a new bus route in Old Dhaka, covering Gulistan, Sadarghat and Babubazar, as these areas experience huge traffic centring Sadarghat terminal and lower court.
During the briefing, the DSCC mayor also said the committee discussed about public sufferings, likely to be mounted during the month of Ramadan.
The committee asked all concerned, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), to place recommendations with remedial plans in this regard in its next meeting.
The meeting also discussed about impact of the newly-launched circular bus service in Dhanmondi area, and agreed to withdraw rickshaws from the main roads in phases after plying of buses after every five minutes is ensured.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) launched the first circular bus service in the city on March 26, covering about 20-kilometre road from Gabtoli to Azimpur with 34 points to pick and drop passengers.
The meeting was attended, among others, by the PMO Principal Coordinator on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Affairs Abul Kalam Azad, transport expert Dr S M Saleh Uddin, the DTCA Executive Director Khandaker Rakibur Rahman, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Chairman Farid Ahmed Bhuiya, the BRTA Chairman M Moshiur Rahman, and the DMP Joint Police Commissioner Mustafizur Rahman.
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