Making Thakurgaon bus terminal operational
Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Even after around 20 years into inauguration, the central bus terminal of Thakurgaon district is yet to be properly utilised. The transport owners and workers continue to avoid it citing lack of facilities including power connection and drainage system. As it remains unused and lacks maintenance, the terminal building is falling apart. The terminal was built on five bighas of land along the Thakurgaon-Dinajpur highway and supposed to ease traffic congestion and remove illegal bus stands. Though it was inaugurated in 2003, it could not be made operational due to lack of the interest of the bus owners and drivers to use it.
The terminal has all facilities including passengers' seating arrangement, ticket counter, canteen, etc. But there is no passenger. Transport companies do not use this terminal and their buses are parked at different places on the highway so that they can easily pick up their passengers. These buses stand on the highway for hours and create traffic congestions. As a result, passengers have to go through a lot of hassles. For instance, they have to wait at the roadside under scorching heat or on muddy roads during heavy rains.
As the terminal has been lying unused for years, its building is crumbling. Doors and windows of the building are being stolen. Due to lack of maintenance, the place is strewn with piles of garbage. It has now become a safe haven for drug addicts and floating people. The government has built bus terminals in many districts in the country to reduce traffic jams and accidents. But they are not used by bus drivers as they think they can pick more passengers from the roads and highways. The authorities concerned should take necessary steps to open the unused bus terminals across the country including Thakurgaon Central Bus Terminal and make them operational. This move will also help the passengers wait comfortably for their buses.
Ashikujaman Syed,
Foreign Service Officer,
Anhui Haikang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd,
Anqing, China,
syedashikujaman@yahoo.com