Two new push-through projects are initiated for launching full-fledged rapid-transit bus services in Dhaka, which is expected to dilute a slew of nagging problems the capital city smart from.
Dhaka BRT Company is undertaking the two schemes for the bus services on the infrastructure built under the long-delayed Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project, which has been under development for over 13 years.
As planned, the first project will focus on procuring buses, installing an Integrated Traffic System (ITS), and providing short-term maintenance and services.
The second project will prioritize long-term operation of the BRT service by purchasing additional buses, completing unfinished infrastructures, and building a dedicated BRT bus terminal in the airport area.
A preliminary decision to move forward with these plans was made at a recent workshop convened to amend the revision of the existing Development Project Proposal (DPP) for extending its duration.
The workshop saw participation from key stakeholders, including representatives from Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD), Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Dhaka BRT Company, Economic Relations Division (ERD), and consulting firms, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
The government initiated the project in 2012 with an estimated cost of Tk20.40 billion to complete works by 2016. The tenure of the project had been extended to December last due to delays caused by several bottlenecks.
The cost of the project also escalated to Tk 42.68 billion. Despite the spending of about 90-percent higher amount, the state-run company has yet to introduce BRT services on the infrastructure, while city traffic chaos keeps compounding.
However, the state-owned BRTC has introduced a bus service operating along the alignment of the BRT line. Additionally, the corridor is being utilized by public transport vehicles and freight trucks, which undermines the fundamental concept of the BRT system designed exclusively for dedicated bus services.
Experts blame "weak planning, design flaws, and poor implementation capacity" and feeble wish for the lapse of 13 years in launching Dhaka's BRT services.
They have identified the proposal for new projects within the long-running initiative disappointing and a sign of inefficiency.
Officials have said the main project included construction of BRT lines with a length of over 20 kms, BRT stations, bus depot, six flyovers, a pedestrian underpass in the airport area and several infrastructures. The project also included funds for procuring buses, ITS and other support equipment and consultancy to operate services.
However, the RTHD dropped pedestrian underpass from the project and initiated another project with an estimated cost of Tk 11.84 billion to construct the underpass.
Dr Shamsul Hoque, Director of Accident Research Institute (ARI) at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), says the project was commissioned with great expectations of traversing to Gazipur in just 40 minutes, but all efforts seem to have been neglected in project implementation.
He deplores that the goal of the contractors was just to extend the period and inflate the costs, rather than completing it swiftly and commencing the service. And the authorities have not taken any measure to ensure service delivery within the stipulated time.
"Development projects implemented with public money should deliver some services for people. But the BRT project is delivering new projects," he says
Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Managing Director of Dhaka BRT Company Limited, chaired the workshop. He focused on project progress, remaining works, and a strategy for timely implementation, revealed the minutes of the workshop.
Nafiul Hasan, Additional Secretary of the Urban Transport Division and Project, highlighted the critical tasks necessary to operationalise the BRT system, proposing a phased approach.
The meeting decided on operating BRT basic service through launching the system with essential services, excluding advanced facilities such as the Intelligent Transport System (ITS).
The workshop also placed a plan for full BRT operation with a comprehensive service integration, including ITS and additional infrastructure.
To implement the plan, the officials proposed to divide the works between two DPPs, while the first project will cover immediate tasks such as bus procurement, one-year maintenance, ITS installation, digital fare systems, and basic station-safety features.
The second project will encompass long-term components like depot construction, workshop equipment, support vehicles, footpath development, compensation for affected individuals, and addressing unfinished infrastructure.
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