Counter-based bus service in Ctg faces closure
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Dec 19: Just six month after its inauguration, irregularities by the Chittagong Transport Owners Forum (CTOF) may cause the closure of counter-based bus service in the city, concerned sources said.
In order to bring discipline in the city's transport system, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Traffic Department introduced counter-based bus service in the city from April this year. For its smooth operation, eleven committees headed by the CTOF were formed.
It is learnt that from the beginning of this counter-based bus service, city dwellers have been suffering instead of enjoying hassle-free travelling. Excess fare, indiscriminate picking of passengers and not operating on the city routes even after getting the route permit and the near absence of vigilance by the administration have seriously disappointed passengers. Irregularities which include sale of counterfeit tickets with the connivance of dishonest officials of the route committee, general bus owners have incurred huge losses. Inevitably, they lost interest in continuing the counter-based services. In fact, it resulted in the suspension in operation of counter-based services on many routes right after Ramadan. The same may soon happen in the rest of the routes, say sources.
CHITTAGONG, Dec 19: Just six month after its inauguration, irregularities by the Chittagong Transport Owners Forum (CTOF) may cause the closure of counter-based bus service in the city, concerned sources said.
In order to bring discipline in the city's transport system, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Traffic Department introduced counter-based bus service in the city from April this year. For its smooth operation, eleven committees headed by the CTOF were formed.
It is learnt that from the beginning of this counter-based bus service, city dwellers have been suffering instead of enjoying hassle-free travelling. Excess fare, indiscriminate picking of passengers and not operating on the city routes even after getting the route permit and the near absence of vigilance by the administration have seriously disappointed passengers. Irregularities which include sale of counterfeit tickets with the connivance of dishonest officials of the route committee, general bus owners have incurred huge losses. Inevitably, they lost interest in continuing the counter-based services. In fact, it resulted in the suspension in operation of counter-based services on many routes right after Ramadan. The same may soon happen in the rest of the routes, say sources.