BRTC to launch first ever CNG-run buses
Monday, 18 January 2010
Munima Sultana
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launches its first ever CNG-run buses on different routes in the city aiming to increase its passenger service alongside fuel efficiency.
Officials said 50 single-decker CNG buses would be launched in the first phase in March and 50 others in the second phase in June.
They said the award winning Chinese company-Dongfeng Yangtse Company Ltd - had been readying the buses after the corporation's finalisation of design and colour.
"The new BRTC buses will measure 11 metres in length with a capacity of 52 seats each," said BRTC Director (Technical) Akter Kamal.
He said although the corporation projected the project cost at Tk 900 million (90 crore), the lowest bidder won the work at Tk 325 million, down by around 70 per cent.
The BRTC director said the corporation took the initiative to ensure a fair competition in the transport sector by reducing dependence on expensive fuel.
The BRTC has undertaken a project to increase its fleet by launching 400 more fuel-efficient CNG buses in the city as it has to incur heavy losses due to the use of expensive fuels for running the buses.
Of the 400 buses, the tender procedure for 100 was completed in September with funding support from the Nordic Development Fund. The remaining 300 single-decker CNG buses are expected to be procured with credit from the Economic Development Corporation Fund in next three years.
"The BRTC has not been able to earn profit because of an unfair competition in the transport sector," the BRTC director.
As most of the private buses were running on CNG, the corporation could not make any profit by using expensive fuel, he added.
The fare of the new model buses would be much lower than the diesel-run buses.
Besides, he said the new buses would give the passengers more comfort than its other buses because of low height. Initially the buses would run between Abdullahpur and Motijheel offering the facility of e-ticketing, he added.
The BRTC had incurred losses for various reasons including inefficient management and use of expensive fuel, particularly, in 2002 when it introduced Volvo buses, the operation cost of which was higher than any other vehicle.
The state-operated transport agency also incurred losses in the face of obstruction from private transport operators.
At present, BRTC operates 500 vehicles throughout the country, of which 20 per cent are being run by private bus operators on lease. Around 100 BRTC buses are running in the city against 6,000 buses owned by private operators. The corporation had launched 50 Volvo buses, of which only 30 are now on streets.
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launches its first ever CNG-run buses on different routes in the city aiming to increase its passenger service alongside fuel efficiency.
Officials said 50 single-decker CNG buses would be launched in the first phase in March and 50 others in the second phase in June.
They said the award winning Chinese company-Dongfeng Yangtse Company Ltd - had been readying the buses after the corporation's finalisation of design and colour.
"The new BRTC buses will measure 11 metres in length with a capacity of 52 seats each," said BRTC Director (Technical) Akter Kamal.
He said although the corporation projected the project cost at Tk 900 million (90 crore), the lowest bidder won the work at Tk 325 million, down by around 70 per cent.
The BRTC director said the corporation took the initiative to ensure a fair competition in the transport sector by reducing dependence on expensive fuel.
The BRTC has undertaken a project to increase its fleet by launching 400 more fuel-efficient CNG buses in the city as it has to incur heavy losses due to the use of expensive fuels for running the buses.
Of the 400 buses, the tender procedure for 100 was completed in September with funding support from the Nordic Development Fund. The remaining 300 single-decker CNG buses are expected to be procured with credit from the Economic Development Corporation Fund in next three years.
"The BRTC has not been able to earn profit because of an unfair competition in the transport sector," the BRTC director.
As most of the private buses were running on CNG, the corporation could not make any profit by using expensive fuel, he added.
The fare of the new model buses would be much lower than the diesel-run buses.
Besides, he said the new buses would give the passengers more comfort than its other buses because of low height. Initially the buses would run between Abdullahpur and Motijheel offering the facility of e-ticketing, he added.
The BRTC had incurred losses for various reasons including inefficient management and use of expensive fuel, particularly, in 2002 when it introduced Volvo buses, the operation cost of which was higher than any other vehicle.
The state-operated transport agency also incurred losses in the face of obstruction from private transport operators.
At present, BRTC operates 500 vehicles throughout the country, of which 20 per cent are being run by private bus operators on lease. Around 100 BRTC buses are running in the city against 6,000 buses owned by private operators. The corporation had launched 50 Volvo buses, of which only 30 are now on streets.