PM's directive to launch BRTC buses for city's schools, banks
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to take initiatives to introduce specific BRTC bus services for the city's educational institutions, especially schools, and banks to provide the city dwellers with comfortable and timely transport facilities, reports UNB.
Addressing a function marking the inauguration of 100 CNG-run BRTC single-decker buses at the Bashar Base of the Old Airport Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister also ordered the removal of unfit buses and other vehicles from the city streets to protect the environment and ease traffic congestion.
The new buses, procured from China with loan assistance from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) in addition to funding from the Government of Bangladesh, will soon ply the city streets.
Hasina said: "Formulate policies and guidelines to arrange buses for schools, colleges, banks and other institutions. We want to facilitate the city dwellers with smooth, timely and comfortable public transport."
She assured all necessary assistance from the government to arrange the BRTC buses for various institutions.
About her plan for introducing BRTC bus services on a massive scale, the Prime Minister said a modern bus service could be introduced for all educational institutions.
"If the BRTC buses move around the city everyday and take passengers from the schools and colleges at a certain time from morning to evening, then the students and teachers will not feel it necessary to use their private cars," she said.
In this regard, the Prime Minister suggested that there should be notice boards in front of the educational institutions through which people can come to know about the schedule of the buses.
She said already the government has fixed specific times for schools, and government and non-government offices and BRTC can use the timing to introduce its bus services accordingly.
The Prime Minister declared that the government will provide at least two buses for each of the colleges in the capital.
She further disclosed that the government would procure some 600 more new buses.
Hasina said the government wanted to introduce a strong and modern public transport system in the country, particularly for the city dwellers.
She noted that in most developed countries, public transport systems were very strong and provided outstanding service to their citizens.
Sympathising with the common people of the capital for the suffering they faced trying to get into public buses during rush hours, the Prime Minister said government's priority was to provide fast and smooth transport facilities for the masses.
Addressing a function marking the inauguration of 100 CNG-run BRTC single-decker buses at the Bashar Base of the Old Airport Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister also ordered the removal of unfit buses and other vehicles from the city streets to protect the environment and ease traffic congestion.
The new buses, procured from China with loan assistance from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) in addition to funding from the Government of Bangladesh, will soon ply the city streets.
Hasina said: "Formulate policies and guidelines to arrange buses for schools, colleges, banks and other institutions. We want to facilitate the city dwellers with smooth, timely and comfortable public transport."
She assured all necessary assistance from the government to arrange the BRTC buses for various institutions.
About her plan for introducing BRTC bus services on a massive scale, the Prime Minister said a modern bus service could be introduced for all educational institutions.
"If the BRTC buses move around the city everyday and take passengers from the schools and colleges at a certain time from morning to evening, then the students and teachers will not feel it necessary to use their private cars," she said.
In this regard, the Prime Minister suggested that there should be notice boards in front of the educational institutions through which people can come to know about the schedule of the buses.
She said already the government has fixed specific times for schools, and government and non-government offices and BRTC can use the timing to introduce its bus services accordingly.
The Prime Minister declared that the government will provide at least two buses for each of the colleges in the capital.
She further disclosed that the government would procure some 600 more new buses.
Hasina said the government wanted to introduce a strong and modern public transport system in the country, particularly for the city dwellers.
She noted that in most developed countries, public transport systems were very strong and provided outstanding service to their citizens.
Sympathising with the common people of the capital for the suffering they faced trying to get into public buses during rush hours, the Prime Minister said government's priority was to provide fast and smooth transport facilities for the masses.