Well-designed city bus demanded

Stakeholders at a public hearing on public transport on Wednesday called for a well-designed city bus-transport system that would offer comfortable rides by addressing the prevailing issues.
They also laid importance on preparing a framework for bringing all routes under the operations of a single company and removing ramshackle buses from city streets, highlighting the necessity of an acceptable business model in this regard.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) organised the public hearing titled "Identifying problems in public transport and addressing solutions" at its office, with Road Transport and Highways Division Senior Secretary Md Ehsanul Hoque in the chair.
DTCA Executive Director Neelima Akhter, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Chairman Mohammed Yasin, and Consultant for the bus route rationalisation special committee Dr SM Salauddin spoke on the occasion, among others.
Officials from different government and non-government offices as well as representatives of bus owners' association and anti-quota student movement also attended the hearing.
Transport engineer Dhrubo Alam presented the keynote on bus route rationalisation and franchising.
Convener of Dhaka Bus Owners' Association Saiful Islam welcomed the bus route franchising initiative and the shifting of bus terminals on the outskirts of the city, calling upon the government to provide necessary support for sustainable route rationalisation.
He said no public transports run in the world without government support and interventions, except Bangladesh. He also said the model to have a single company operating services by combining all routes into one must be acceptable to all.
Salauddin highlighted the initiatives taken so far for bus route rationalisation and franchising, seeking cooperation from all government agencies to execute all decisions and make the efforts successful.
Addressing the hearing, Ehsanul emphasised the need for collective efforts to ensure safe roads and comfortable travels. He urged all stakeholders, including transport owners and workers, passengers, and pedestrians, to work together and play their part in reducing road accidents.
Yasin called for shared responsibility among all stakeholders to bring about meaningful reforms in the public transport sector.
As public transports serve all, he stressed the need for mutual respect and cooperation among owners and workers, passengers, and pedestrians to bring discipline on the streets.
The DTCA executive director called for cooperation from all and said it is high time to implement public transport reforms. "The DTCA is working on creating a sustainable, planned, and modern transportation system for Dhaka."

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