Company-based bus service starts on 6 Dhaka routes

Photo: collected

Company-based bus operations began on six routes in Dhaka on Sunday as authorities sought to bring order to public transport. However, disputes over route allocation and bus fitness emerged ahead of the launch.

Rajnigandha Paribahan, which had operated on the Farmgate route for 36 years, was assigned the Kanchpur route, prompting dissatisfaction.

The system was scheduled to be inaugurated at 11 am on Manik Mia Avenue. According to Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) sources, Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP for Pabna-5 and chief coordinator of the Transport Owners-Workers Unity Council, was expected to inaugurate the programme.

Md. Amir, a driver at Rajnigandha Paribahan, said the company had operated on the Farmgate route for 36 years but was assigned the Kanchpur route this time. The company had submitted an application to the DTCA through the Bus Owners Association, seeking reconsideration of the decision.

DTCA Additional Executive Director Md. Mashiur Rahman said several companies, including Rajnigandha, Prajapati and Paristhan, had faced problems with route allocation. Issues had also emerged over the fitness and designated colours of some buses.

Work was underway to resolve the problems, he said, adding that operations would begin even if a few companies could not join initially.

Plan for 816 buses on six routes-

The plan included 816 buses on six routes, comprising 796 non-AC and 20 AC buses:

Shibbari-Dhakeshwari Temple: 253 buses operated by VIP Paribahan

Mirpur Zoo-Keraniganj: 133 buses operated by Zoo City Bus

Ghatarchar-Demra: 70 buses operated by Ramjan Ali Enterprise

Ghatarchar-Kanchpur: 150 buses operated by Four Star Bus Line

Ghatarchar-Dhaur: 190 buses operated by PNP City Service

Tongi-Dhakeshwari Temple: 20 AC buses operated by Dhaka Chakka

Authorities also planned to operate 60 buses on three circular routes in Farmgate, Mohammadpur and Uttara.

Under the new system, a single company would operate buses on each designated route, aiming to reduce competition among operators for passengers.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) worked with the DTCA to implement the initiative.

The government also planned to reorganise Dhaka's bus network into 32 corridors and introduce designated bus stops, electronic ticketing and GPS tracking systems.

The initiative aimed to curb unhealthy competition, restore discipline in the transport sector and improve passenger services. However, disputes over route allocation and bus fitness had emerged as challenges at the start of the new system.