Circular BRTC bus service launched on city route

A new circular bus service hit the Dhanmondi-New Market-Azimpur route on Wednesday, aiming to ease traffic woes in the area and bring relief to commuters.
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon inaugurated the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) service near Kalabagan Bus Stand.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, among others, spoke at the event.
Primarily, the BRTC is operating some 25 air-conditioned buses which will pick and drop passengers from 36 points on the circular route.
Anyone can use the service after buying a ticket from any bus stop. The lowest fare has been fixed at Tk 10 and the highest fare at Tk 30.
A circular bus will run every five to 10 minutes from a stop.
More buses and areas would come under the service in phases, the city corporation authorities said at the launching ceremony.
The new service would help reduce congestion and also address transport crisis, they hoped.
It will provide comfortable journey for commuters and ensure traffic order in the areas as well.
The latest initiative has been made in line  with the prime minister's directive to regulate the city's traffic mess, said Mr Khokon at the programme.
He believes that the move will reduce nagging gridlock in the areas that the service encompasses.
The new service is part of the recommendation of 'Bus Route Rationalisation Committee which was formed to bring discipline in the city's traffic management.
The south city father, who is the convener of the committee, said such service will also run on Motijheel-Uttara route soon.
The committee is working to introduce bus services under six companies to bring order and discipline in the transport service of the capital.
It would take more time to complete the whole procedure, Mr Khokon mentioned.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Mia expressed hope to bring disciple in traffic management within 15 days.
The move would reduce the movement of private vehicles in the areas for the circular bus service, he said.
"People are more aware than before, and we don't want a single life to be lost in traffic accident further," the police officer added.
He pleaded everybody to follow traffic rules.
Sources said Dhaka police submitted a proposal to the committee to open 'some' areas under circular bus service to reduce the presence of private vehicles.
nsrafsanju@gmail.com