New bus route system facing hurdles
The new bus transport system, in which buses of one route will operate under one franchise company, has been facing hurdles since it was tentatively introduced last year on Uttara-Azimpur route, bus owners say.
Bus Route Franchise (BRF), the new system, was designed for more organised and faster travels in the capital.
However, bus service operators are getting permits to run their buses on that route, which hinders BRF functioning, the bus owners alleged.
The owners also blamed non-cooperation from government agencies concerned to get the minibuses, which should not be there on the first place, off the streets.
As per BRF, all bus companies with valid permits are designed to operate on one route under one company name.
The owners said a group of ruling party backed transport workers want BRF to fail, as it has stopped their scope for extortion.
BRF was introduced in April last year under Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for Dhaka city, which aims to free streets by reducing minibuses and fragmented or individual ownership, and to cop street races among buses to get passengers. BRF is to be introduced gradually on all routes in the city.
Another major aim of the system is to eliminate extortion from buses, said Khandaker Rafiqul Hossain Kajal, managing partner of franchise company Shuchona.
Suchona is now executing the pilot project on Uttara-Azimpur route.
"Despite the government's commitment to prioritise BRF, the authorities concerned gave route permits to other companies to operate," said Kajal.
"There are also around 150 minibuses, many human hauliers, and some small four-wheelers plying illegally. The franchise system cannot work like this." Kajal said. "The effort is about to fail because of unauthorised transports."
Buses operating under BRF are supposed to set off every seven minutes, said Kajal, also the president of Association of Bus Companies (ABC).
But, the buses do not get good number of passenger and then get delayed, as people prefer smaller vehicles for lower fares, Kajal added.
He alleged that Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) was supposed to provide 20 buses, but they gradually pulled out. "This means that providing buses is now entirely our responsibility."
The BRF system was to introduce digital ticketing at all the stops, which also did not work, as making it available has been possible only at a few places.
The Uttara-Azimpur route covers about a 30-kilometre distance from Uttara Sector-12 (Khalpar) to Azimpur (Palassey) via Sobhanbagh, Manik Mia Avenue, Bijoy Sarani, Mohakhali, Khilkhet, Airport, and Azampur with 27 stoppages in all.
"We are aware of the problems and we agree that BRF will not succeed unless smaller vehicles are removed. It will be discussed in the next meeting," said Dr SM Salehuddin, additional executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB).
He said, "Bus owners are unwilling to work under one franchise because they do not understand its benefit.''
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