<i>Passengers suffer as bus terminal lacks facilities</i>
Traffic congestion at Oxygen intersection in the port city has become a regular feature as drivers park buses in an unplanned way in the nearby bus terminal and stops on the road at will to allow passengers to get in. Photo: STAR
Thousands of passengers in north Chittagong, Khagrachhari and Rangamati have been facing manifold problems as the bus terminal at Oxygen Intersection in the port city lacks necessary facilities. Passengers, transport owners and workers said the terminal lacks facilities like passenger shed, waiting room, toilet and parking space, causing a chaotic situation everyday. The terminal was shifted from Muradpur area after the 1/11 last year with a view to easing traffic congestion in the city centre and to the Oxygen Intersection, the entry point at the northern outskirts of the city, they said. Chittagong City Corporation set up the terminal at Muradpur with necessary infrastructures and other facilities to offer the passengers a comfortable and hassle-free journey. The terminal, set up on the footpath in violation of traffic rules, used to create traffic congestion at the busy CDA Avenue. As such, many welcomed the shifting of the terminal from Muradpur Intersection to Oxygen Intersection. But, the passengers now face a lot of hassles for lack of sheds and other facility at the terminal. Over 600 buses leave the terminal everyday for different destinations, including Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Matiranga, Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Nazirhat, Rauzan, Mohalchhari and Kawkhali. The passengers use the Oxygen Intersection as the Traffic Department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) does not allow the buses of 22 routes enter the city. In absence of sheds, passengers suffer during the rain and the sun when they wait for buses or hiring other mode of transports to enter the city centre, which also cost them additional expenses. Rupal Barua, a resident of Agrabad in the city, said they cannot wait at the terminal for vehicles for lack of passenger-shed or waiting room when the use of makeshift toilets is very embarrassing. He said he is to count Tk 70 to 80 to reach the terminal from his residence as it is at the other end of the city while the bus fare for Rangamati is Tk 75. Shapla Chakma, who was waiting for bus to go to Khagrachhari at the terminal on Monday, said she is too tired as she stays at the terminal after a six-hour journey from Dhaka. She said there is no sitting arrangement and good toilet facilities for the female passengers. Besides, lack of any restaurant also increases suffering to the hungry passengers to a great extent, she added. Chittagong-Khagrachhari Inter-district Bus-Minibus Owners' Association General Secretary Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury said they repeatedly informed it to the administration without any remedy. He said they are to park their buses on both the sides of the road for lack of parking space, creating gridlock at the Oxygen to Muradpur and Sholoshahar Intersections. Chittagong-Rangamati Motor Malik Samity General Secretary Mohammad Shukkur echoed the same saying they have sent letters to home ministry, communication ministry, Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), Chittagong and Rangamati district administrations and the CMP Traffic Department. He said they have yet to get any positive result from the authorities in this regard. Both Saleh and Shukkur urged the authorities concerned to set up a full-fledge bus terminal for a comfortable journey of the passengers. The Transport Workers' Union President Abul Khair also came up with the same complaints and said hundreds of their workers, including drivers, helpers and lines-men of all routes, suffer much due to lack of infrastructure. CDA Executive Engineer (Project) Shahabuddin Khaled said the terminal at the Oxygen Intersection is a temporary one after its' shifting from Muradpur. He said they have selected a site near the Oxygen Intersection for a full-fledged bus terminal and would send a proposal to the ministry in two weeks.
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