Many plans are undertaken to bring discipline in transport sector but those remain in documents only without implementation, experts observed on Saturday.
Bangladesh Roads Transport Authority (BRTA) gives registration to vehicles without conducting any research on the number of vehicles that can be given permission to ply in Dhaka.
Besides, lack of a business model in the transport sector has been contributing in sustaining the chaotic situation in the sector.
They suggested increasing capacity of the service providing agencies and eliminating coordination gap.
The suggestions were made at a roundtable discussion on 'Actions to maintain discipline in public transport' at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) premises in the city.
Nagar Unnayan Sangbadik Forum and IEB jointly organsied the seminar. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon was present as the chief guest.
Former executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) SM Saleh Uddin said many plans are undertaken to bring discipline in public transport sector but those remain in imagination only and not executed.
The Strategic Transport Plan (STP) was prepared over 10 years back without much implementation, he added.
Referring to the movement for safe road by the students, Mr Saleh said that the instructions of the prime minister made during the movement were not also materialised.
Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) general secretary Adil Mohammed Khan said that the transport sector has been plagued with various problems like political ownership of the vehicles, fitness problem, drivers without license, reluctance to follow traffic rules, disregarding the specific bus stoppage, unhealthy competition and giving registration of bus and minibus without any survey.
Criticising the initiative to introduce circular bus, he said that the initiative was not successful.
"We are hearing that several thousand buses will be introduced in Dhaka. But we see no visible progress in that regard," he said.
He suggested regional, area and ward based transport planning. Besides, he recommended introducing air condition bus service to develop improved public transport, imposing high rate of fine to control accident and providing benefit to drivers.
Road Research Laboratory director Abdullah Al Mamun said the business model of the public transport sector is faulty despite Dhaka offers huge opportunity for the owners.
The risk allocation is wrong here as the drivers have to take responsibility to provide Tk 4000-5000 to an owner which creates indiscipline and unhealthy competition.
Both the owners and passengers should be benefited through a proper business model, he added.
Bangladesh University of Engineers and Technology (BUET) Professor Mizanur Rahman said there is shortage of roads in East-West direction creating traffic congestion on the North-South direction roads.
There is no plan keeping in mind the people with disabilities who are 16 per cent of the total population.
In his speech, Mayor Sayeed Khokon said a large section of the population is not prepared to develop the expected kind of city.
This population should be made aware. The existing indiscipline in public transport sector is a huge problem for Dhaka.
"I have been made head of a 10-member committee to bring discipline in public transport sector. We will bring 355 routes under 22 and make six companies by dissolving 2500 companies," he said.
There are 7500 buses now plying in the city which will be replaced by new buses, said the mayor.
The task to introduce new buses is not easy as the manufacturer may not be able to deliver the buses by next six months once the order is placed.
That's why two years time is required to show some positive changes in public transport sector, he added.
Deputy Commissioner (Traffic-North) Probir Kumar Roy said 90 per cent of the accidents take place due to lack of awareness of the commuters. There are many passengers who do not ride or get down on and from the buses from the designated bus stoppages. They must abide by rules to bring discipline in public transport, he added.
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