Dhaka’s 98 bus routes to shrink to 32, reorganisation begins with six routes

The government has formally launched bus route reorganisation to end long-running disorder in the capital’s public transport and restore discipline on the roads. The 98 bus routes now in operation will be cut to 32 integrated routes, and as a first step six routes were formally inaugurated on a trial basis on Sunday. Under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority’s (DTCA) “Bus Route Rationalisation” project, all other routes will gradually be brought under the same integrated structure.

Under the project outline, buses on each route may be operated under a single company to stop unhealthy competition and dangerous overtaking among multiple companies’ vehicles on the same road. Those involved believe this will ensure passengers board and alight at specified stoppages, while also making congestion control and improvement of passenger service easier.

DTCA Executive Director Mohammad Mosiur Rahman said the step to convert 98 routes into 32 was taken to end the long-running disorder after analysing passengers’ real demand, road capacity and vehicle pressure.

According to DTCA information, a bus route reorganisation plan was first made in 2011 but was not implemented. A fresh initiative in 2019 initially proposed 42 routes. The current 32 routes were finalised after long reviews with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Dhaka North and South City Corporations and bus owner-worker organisations.

Surveys conducted from 2024 to 2026 analysed the boarding and alighting of more than 10,000 passengers and the destinations of more than 35,000 passengers on the 98 routes. Vehicle counts were also carried out for 72 consecutive hours at 72 important points in the capital, and the overall condition of about 400 kilometres of roads was reviewed with drones to prepare a realistic public transport model using modern software.

DTCA estimates say the proposed 32 routes will provide transport for about 3.7 to 3.8 million passengers every day. As about 70 percent of the new routes are consistent with existing roads, the project can be implemented using current routes and infrastructure. The network has been arranged around important points including the Airport, Mirpur-10, Kuril, Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Badda and Jatrabari.

The six routes launched in the first phase are: from Shib Bari Chowrasta in Gazipur via Abdullahpur to Dhakeshwari Temple in Azimpur; from Mirpur Zoo via Science Lab to Chulkutia in Keraniganj; from Ghatarchar in Basila, Mohammadpur, via Shahbagh and Matsya Bhaban to Demra Staff Quarter; from Basila, Mohammadpur, via Science Lab and Jigatala to Chittagong Road-Kanchpur Bridge in Narayanganj; from Ghatarchar via Mirpur-10 to Dhaur Bridge in Abdullahpur; and from Tongi College Gate via Abdullahpur to Dhakeshwari Temple in Azimpur.

Depending on conditions, 70 to 250 non-AC buses will operate on these routes. In addition, an outline has been kept for three circular services with 20 buses each at Farmgate-Palashi, in the Mohammadpur area and in Uttara.

Transport firms including Dhaka Chaka, Ramzan Ali Enterprise, Four Star Bus Line and PNP City Service will be involved in the operation, and designated parking places have also been identified for proper management of the buses.