Let bus rationalisation plan be successful

As Dhaka's population keeps swelling and traffic jam worsens, the need for an orderly, safe and passenger-friendly bus service cannot be overemphasised. The majority of the city's residents rely on local buses for their day-to-day commute, but the service has long been an abject mess - overcrowded, unsafe, lacking in hygiene, and poorly maintained. The buses also operate in a chaotic manner, with hundreds of companies operating on as many as 380 routes. Added to the woe is the plying of unfit vehicles in a reckless manner, competing for passengers. The competing buses often stop or park haphazardly, sometimes even in the middle of the road, to pick up passengers and block rival buses from overtaking, which leads to frequent accident and tailbacks.
A Bus Route Rationalisation (BRR) initiative has long been recognised by various studies and transport experts as a sustainable step towards revamping the city bus service. The city authorities have been dabbling in the BRR venture for over two decades. In 2012, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) was established to spearhead the implementation of this ambitious plan. However, with the exception of a brief period under the leadership of the late DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq, serious efforts to implement the BRR scheme have been largely absent. Subsequent attempts by the DSCC mayors to oversee the process have yielded little tangible progress, with the meetings of Bus Route Regulation Committee (BRCC) on this matter proving to be nothing but eyewash. Implementation of the BRR scheme has been repeatedly hampered by the non-cooperation of political actors, bus owners and different vested quarters who opposed the initiative primarily to protect their own narrow self-interests like extorting money by maintaining a flawed and corrupt system.
This interim government has revived the long-overdue BRR initiative. The DTCA has announced that all existing bus companies in Dhaka will be dissolved and integrated into a single entity named Dhaka Nagar Paribahan effective March 1st. A total of 170 bus companies have reportedly applied to participate in this initiative. The DTCA is currently scrutinising these applications and reviewing existing bus routes, with plans to consolidate the current 388 routes into 40-45 routes. The existing buses will undergo necessary repair and upgrading, including the installation of automatic doors, adjusted seating, and higher steps for improved passenger safety and comfort. Most importantly, under this scheme drivers and helpers will be employed directly by Dhaka Nagar Paribahan, which will eliminate the dangerous competition among different bus operators for more passengers.
But at a time when the long-awaited BRR initiative is gaining momentum, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division in a surprise move unveiled a new bus route plan encompassing 54 routes, including 25 circular routes. The DMP's move has raised concerns among stakeholders, as its proposed routes do not align with the 42 routes in nine clusters recommended by the BRRC. While the DMP Traffic Division, with its extensive experience in managing traffic flow at various intersections, possesses valuable insights into the city's transportation needs, its authority to independently formulate a comprehensive bus route plan remains questionable. Many are questioning whether the DMP's proposal is an attempt to circumvent the established BRR process. The successful implementation of the BRR initiative hinges on the active cooperation and support of all stakeholders, including political parties and the DMP. Without their genuine commitment and collaboration, the initiative is unlikely to succeed. So, it is hoped that all the stakeholders would support the BRRC in greater public interest.