Streamlining BRTC services

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BRTC's new CNG bus service is a boon for city commuters what with the city packed with dilapidated buses and mini-buses that carry passengers in the city but are extremely crowded and seating uncomfortable with ridiculous leg space. But when there is nothing better we are forced to use whatever we can.
The brand new CNG buses of BRTC are a relief indeed. The BRTC also has a few Volvo double-deckers from the more than 50 that were imported. From that entire fleet of Volvos, the four or five now running will not last long if they are not maintained properly. There are complains from inside the BRTC that they are leasing out the vehicles, including the Volvo as well as the new CNGs, to other parties who have to provide a specific amount of money.
Those parties run those vehicles in the manner that serves their interest best: more money above what they have to pay to BRTC and in less time too. This means that they have to run the vehicles to extreme levels -- an exercise that is bound to physically affect those vehicles. A good example is the graveyard of Volvos in the BRTC depot.
Then again, the drivers of the new CNGs buses drive their vehicles in cavalier fashion and sometimes indulge in what could be called 'rough driving'. Also, though a sign says that passengers standing (because this is a seating arrangement) or without tickets would be fined Tk 30, a regular phenomena is that the driver takes the money from passengers who don't pay the BRTC.

Mohammad Jamshed
Sector 4, Road 3
Uttara Model Town, Dhaka