BRTC to import 500 buses, 1000 trucks from China
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Munima Sultana
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) plans to import at least 500 buses and 1000 trucks from China under its soft loan arrangement to improve public transport services for both passengers and transportation of goods.
Officials said the import plan has been taken as most of the BRTC buses will be unfit for use within a few years like its trucks.
BRTC, on an average, can ply only 150 trucks for carrying goods regularly. The lifespan of majority of the BRTC trucks has already crossed 20 years and these were dumped.
"As majority of our buses and trucks are beyond 15 to 20 years' old, plying of those vehicles on the road has become expensive due to frequent overhauling. For that reason, the BRTC wants to fill up the gap," said BRTC Director (technical) Adbullahel Karim.
He said the BRTC buses are being imported from China considering its low interest rate and price.
The director, however, said the technical team has attached due importance to the quality of the vehicles and will finalise purchase deal.
The ministry of communications earlier asked the BRTC to advise it about its plan to import buses and trucks in August last after receiving a number of proposals from the Chinese companies. Many delegations from Chinese companies and their local agents have met senior officials of BRTC and the ministry concerned.
Though there was an initiative to buy Indian trucks under the Indian credit line, the BRTC, however, considers the process would be time consuming as majority projects under the Indian loan support have already been approved or decided upon.
At present, the BRTC runs around 876 buses among its 1242 buses round the clock. Rest of the buses remain in its depots for regular maintenance or overhauling purposes. Some 65 buses have already been declared totally unfit for use. Among the corporation's 500 trucks, only 171 trucks are in service either partially or fully.
BRTC Truck Division which was established in 1971 supports the government in carrying foods, relief, fertilisers throughout the country through its fleet of 170 trucks. About 20% of government foodgrains are carried by these trucks. Truck service is also available for private hiring.
Though the corporation had been a loss-making entity few years back, the present management has reversed the situation.
Mr Karim said the BRTC cannot increase number of vehicles and employ more staff as per requirement on its own as per rule. It is authorised to run 1500 buses and 500 trucks with 5000 manpower.
The BRTC was empowered to employ 5000 people in 1989 against which it has now only 3000 staff.
However, the ministry officials said the BRTC is reluctant to import buses and trucks from India under the Indian $1.0 billion credit line though the ministry earlier sought their suggestion in this regard.
Besides, they alleged, the BRTC has also been reluctant to provide information on the position of the buses imported recently from China, Korea and India.
During the tenure of the present government, the BRTC has imported 275 Single Decker CNG buses under Nordiac Development Fund. Besides, it procured another 255 AC/Non AC CNG Single Decker buses under EDCF (Korean) loan. All these buses have already been running in different routes of Dhaka city and outside.
In 2011, the corporation made a deal with Asoka Layland to import 290 double Decker, 88 AC single Decker and 50 articulated buses under the Indian credit line. Of these, 290 double decker buses have recently been imported.
However the BRTC suggested the ministry to go for next purchase from China giving the names of two companies considering low rate of interest, extended period for loan repayment and low cost in repairing, maintenance and operation.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) plans to import at least 500 buses and 1000 trucks from China under its soft loan arrangement to improve public transport services for both passengers and transportation of goods.
Officials said the import plan has been taken as most of the BRTC buses will be unfit for use within a few years like its trucks.
BRTC, on an average, can ply only 150 trucks for carrying goods regularly. The lifespan of majority of the BRTC trucks has already crossed 20 years and these were dumped.
"As majority of our buses and trucks are beyond 15 to 20 years' old, plying of those vehicles on the road has become expensive due to frequent overhauling. For that reason, the BRTC wants to fill up the gap," said BRTC Director (technical) Adbullahel Karim.
He said the BRTC buses are being imported from China considering its low interest rate and price.
The director, however, said the technical team has attached due importance to the quality of the vehicles and will finalise purchase deal.
The ministry of communications earlier asked the BRTC to advise it about its plan to import buses and trucks in August last after receiving a number of proposals from the Chinese companies. Many delegations from Chinese companies and their local agents have met senior officials of BRTC and the ministry concerned.
Though there was an initiative to buy Indian trucks under the Indian credit line, the BRTC, however, considers the process would be time consuming as majority projects under the Indian loan support have already been approved or decided upon.
At present, the BRTC runs around 876 buses among its 1242 buses round the clock. Rest of the buses remain in its depots for regular maintenance or overhauling purposes. Some 65 buses have already been declared totally unfit for use. Among the corporation's 500 trucks, only 171 trucks are in service either partially or fully.
BRTC Truck Division which was established in 1971 supports the government in carrying foods, relief, fertilisers throughout the country through its fleet of 170 trucks. About 20% of government foodgrains are carried by these trucks. Truck service is also available for private hiring.
Though the corporation had been a loss-making entity few years back, the present management has reversed the situation.
Mr Karim said the BRTC cannot increase number of vehicles and employ more staff as per requirement on its own as per rule. It is authorised to run 1500 buses and 500 trucks with 5000 manpower.
The BRTC was empowered to employ 5000 people in 1989 against which it has now only 3000 staff.
However, the ministry officials said the BRTC is reluctant to import buses and trucks from India under the Indian $1.0 billion credit line though the ministry earlier sought their suggestion in this regard.
Besides, they alleged, the BRTC has also been reluctant to provide information on the position of the buses imported recently from China, Korea and India.
During the tenure of the present government, the BRTC has imported 275 Single Decker CNG buses under Nordiac Development Fund. Besides, it procured another 255 AC/Non AC CNG Single Decker buses under EDCF (Korean) loan. All these buses have already been running in different routes of Dhaka city and outside.
In 2011, the corporation made a deal with Asoka Layland to import 290 double Decker, 88 AC single Decker and 50 articulated buses under the Indian credit line. Of these, 290 double decker buses have recently been imported.
However the BRTC suggested the ministry to go for next purchase from China giving the names of two companies considering low rate of interest, extended period for loan repayment and low cost in repairing, maintenance and operation.