Company-based buses launch in Dhaka today amid route-allocation discontent, 816 buses planned on six routes

Amid discontent among transport owners over route allocation in the capital, the government is set to launch company-based bus operations on six routes in Dhaka on Sunday (November 1). The programme will be inaugurated at 11am on Manik Mia Avenue.

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) sources said Pabna-5 MP and chief coordinator of the Transport Owners-Workers Unity Council, Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, may inaugurate the programme.

Discontent over route allocation appeared before the launch. Rajnigandha Paribahan, which has operated on the Farmgate route for 36 years, has been given the Kanchpur route. The company has applied for a reconsideration of the decision. Several other transport companies are also facing complications over assigned routes and bus fitness.

Rajnigandha Paribahan driver Md Amir said their company has operated buses on the Farmgate route for 36 years. But the DTCA allocated them the Kanchpur route. An application for route reconsideration was submitted to the DTCA through the bus owners' association. If the problem is resolved, they will join the new system.

DTCA additional executive director Md Mashiur Rahman said several companies including Rajnigandha, Projapoti and Poristhan are facing problems over assigned routes. There are also complications over the fitness and prescribed colour standards of some buses. The authority is working to resolve these problems.

He said even if a few companies cannot join the route rationalisation programme on Sunday, the initiative will be launched. Regular meetings are being held to resolve management and operational problems.

According to the proposed schedule, a total of 816 buses are planned to operate on the six routes. Of them, 796 are non-AC and 20 are AC buses.

Under the plan, VIP Paribahan will run 253 buses on the Shib bari-Dhakeshwari Temple route, Chiriyakhana City Bus 133 on the Mirpur Zoo-Keraniganj route, and Ramzan Ali Enterprise 70 on the Ghatachar-Demra route.

On the other routes, Four Star Bus Line is proposed to run 150 buses on Ghatachar-Kanchpur, PNP City Service 190 on Ghatachar-Dhaur, and Dhaka Chaka 20 AC buses on Tongi-Dhakeshwari Temple. In addition, 60 buses are planned on three circular routes in the Farmgate, Mohammadpur and Uttara areas.

Under the new system, one company will operate buses on each assigned route. That is, competition among multiple companies' buses to pick up passengers on the same route will be reduced, ensuring bus operations under a specific company.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are working with the DTCA to implement the programme.

Under the government's plan, the capital's existing bus network will be reorganised into 32 corridors. Designated bus stops, electronic ticketing and GPS tracking systems are planned for those corridors.

The aim of the initiative is to restore discipline in the transport sector, stop unhealthy competition among buses and improve passenger service. However, concerned people said disputes over route allocation and complications over bus standards have put the implementation of the new system before a challenge right at the start.