BRTC plans AC vehicles, electric buses to compete with metro rail

The introduction of the metro rail has offered a welcome change for Dhaka commuters, prompting the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to announce plans to improve its services with air-conditioned and electric buses.
"We intend to invest more in city bus services, adding gas-operated AC buses alongside Nagar Paribahan buses, to prioritise service quality," said BRTC Chairman M Tajul Islam.
He said the state-owned transport corporation has planned procurement of 140 CNG-run AC buses. Besides, the BRTC has undertaken four separate projects to integrate electric vehicles.
The chairman made these remarks while sharing views with the members of Reporters for Rail and Road at the BRTC conference room on Monday.
The meeting was arranged to highlight the state-owned corporation's success in transforming its image from a loss-making venture to a profitable one since 2021.
General Manager (Admin and Personnel) Saidur Rahman delivered the keynote presentation, followed by contributions from other BRTC officials who discussed various aspects of the corporation's performance.
Those included fleet capacity, cross-border bus services, mechanical section capacity building and driver training institutes.
Chairman M Tajul Islam acknowledged that BRTC's share of the national bus market is only around 1 per cent, although it holds a 15 per cent share in city bus services.
He added that BRTC must have a 4,000-strong bus fleet to effectively cater to city commuters.
While responding to a question, Mr Islam, who also serves as additional secretary, said that the Rapid Pass system introduced in the metro rail as part of the government's "one ticket for all" initiative is already operational on one route in the North City Corporation area.
Two more routes are planned to be brought under the system to streamline fare collection.
Once heavily criticised for poor service, corruption and irregularities, the BRTC has demonstrably improved its reputation by earning employee trust.
For this achievement, the chairman credited the measures promoting transparency in financial transactions, providing necessary employee facilities and offering timely training.
He elaborated on efforts to improve driver quality through changed training modules and capacity-building initiatives for all staff in training and mechanical workshops.
"Since assuming the role, I have identified 111 problems within the BRTC and we have been trying to address them all," he told journalists.
Mr Islam talked about the corporation's focus on maintaining profitability through service innovations in the city bus sector over the past three years.
These efforts have not only increased BRTC's income but also enabled the gradual clearance of outstanding dues to both current and retired employees.
Despite adding 1,100 buses to its fleet since 2013, the total BRTC fleet stood at only 885 in 2020. Many, including articulated buses, were brought back into operation through the introduction of innovative routes.
The chairman noted the profitability of BRTC buses operating on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, where increased trip frequency has led to daily earnings ranging from Tk 40,000 to Tk 70,000.
"We will no longer compromise on quality when purchasing buses," he concluded, "as we remain committed to addressing passenger needs one by one."

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