BRT to enable commuters travel in city with ease
Sunday, 17 May 2009
FE Report
The government is planning to launch Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to enable commuters travel with ease within the capital plagued with traffic jam.
According to Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB), BRT will operate good quality passenger buses at affordable costs and will be initially launched in one route as part of the 20-year Strategic Transport Plan (STP).
A feasibility study, funded by the World Bank, on the introduction of BRT is expected to start soon. Executive Engineer DTCB Md Anisur Rahman said a fund of Tk 120 million has already been sanctioned to start the study.
Dr SM Salehuddin, additional executive director of DTCB said the government is serious about improving the city's traffic system and has given importance to the proposed BRT services because of its success in many cities of the world.
He said BRT has proved to be a high-quality and cost effective public transport service in many parts of the world.
The cost for constructing BRT lanes ranges between US$ 5.0 and 10 million for each kilometre while it is US $ 150 million for Metro Rapid Transport.
He said a pilot project for operating BRT is being planned from Uttara to Saidabad Bus Terminal. The facilities will include a dedicated lane, sophisticated buses, modern stations and electronic ticketing system.
The STP proposes to build three BRT routes in the capital.
The first route, eastern corridor, will journey from Uttara stopping at Zia International Airport then running down Progati Sarani and DIT as far as Malibag. At this point the dedicated line will move onto the Outer Ring Road past Kamalapur Station and then terminate at Saidabus Bus terminal. As demand increases, the STP hinted, the line could be extended to Tongi and Gazipur in the north to Demra and Narayanganj in the south.
The line-2 is proposed on western corridor and based on Mirpur and Zahir Raihan Sarani Road. It will begin at Gabtali Bus Station/Ferry Landing Stage and continue upto the terminal point in Dhanmondi.
The Lane-3 of BRT is planned to serve the central corridor and is based on Airport Road and Ramna Area. The line will run in one direction in an anti-clockwise loop based on College Road, Phoenix Road and Nazrul Islam Sarani.
BRT has been running in different towns in India, Jakarta, Japan, China and Canada.
The government is planning to launch Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to enable commuters travel with ease within the capital plagued with traffic jam.
According to Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB), BRT will operate good quality passenger buses at affordable costs and will be initially launched in one route as part of the 20-year Strategic Transport Plan (STP).
A feasibility study, funded by the World Bank, on the introduction of BRT is expected to start soon. Executive Engineer DTCB Md Anisur Rahman said a fund of Tk 120 million has already been sanctioned to start the study.
Dr SM Salehuddin, additional executive director of DTCB said the government is serious about improving the city's traffic system and has given importance to the proposed BRT services because of its success in many cities of the world.
He said BRT has proved to be a high-quality and cost effective public transport service in many parts of the world.
The cost for constructing BRT lanes ranges between US$ 5.0 and 10 million for each kilometre while it is US $ 150 million for Metro Rapid Transport.
He said a pilot project for operating BRT is being planned from Uttara to Saidabad Bus Terminal. The facilities will include a dedicated lane, sophisticated buses, modern stations and electronic ticketing system.
The STP proposes to build three BRT routes in the capital.
The first route, eastern corridor, will journey from Uttara stopping at Zia International Airport then running down Progati Sarani and DIT as far as Malibag. At this point the dedicated line will move onto the Outer Ring Road past Kamalapur Station and then terminate at Saidabus Bus terminal. As demand increases, the STP hinted, the line could be extended to Tongi and Gazipur in the north to Demra and Narayanganj in the south.
The line-2 is proposed on western corridor and based on Mirpur and Zahir Raihan Sarani Road. It will begin at Gabtali Bus Station/Ferry Landing Stage and continue upto the terminal point in Dhanmondi.
The Lane-3 of BRT is planned to serve the central corridor and is based on Airport Road and Ramna Area. The line will run in one direction in an anti-clockwise loop based on College Road, Phoenix Road and Nazrul Islam Sarani.
BRT has been running in different towns in India, Jakarta, Japan, China and Canada.