Dhaka Relaunches Franchise Bus Services on Seven Routes to Restore Order

Image: Collected

The government has officially relaunched franchise-based public bus services across seven key routes in Dhaka in a renewed effort to bring discipline and structure to the capital’s notoriously chaotic public transport system. Operated by seven designated companies under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority's (DTCA) bus route rationalisation project, the initiative brings a total of 861 buses onto the city's roads. During the launch at Manik Mia Avenue, officials confirmed that while the initial fleet will operate under existing vehicle colors, all buses are now clearly marked with assigned route numbers, destinations, and serial numbers. Under the broader strategy, older and unfit vehicles will be systematically phased out in favor of a synchronized, strictly regulated network.

The newly deployed services cover major commuting corridors across the city, featuring specialized fleets tailored to each route's passenger volume. These include 253 VIP City Paribahan buses plying the 43-kilometer Shibbari-Azimpur route, 225 PPB City Paribahan buses on the Ghatarchar-Dhour stretch, and 133 Chiriakhana City Paribahan buses running between Mirpur Zoo and Chunkutia. Additionally, 120 Three Star City Paribahan buses will cover the Ghatarchar-Kanchpur route, while 80 Ramzan Ali City Paribahan buses service the Ghatarchar-Demra Staff Quarter line. To cater to premium routes, 20 air-conditioned Dhaka Chaka buses have been assigned to the Tongi-Azimpur run, alongside 30 air-conditioned Trust Transport Services buses connecting the Mirpur 1 Ansar Camp circular route to Kakoli.

This major transit overhaul comes as part of a directive from the Cabinet Division instructing officials to scale up company-based operations citywide within six months, establish designated bus stops within three months, and apply uniform paint schemes to all franchised buses within two months. Senior transit officials and law enforcement authorities emphasized that this effort is a permanent operational standard rather than a temporary trial, with plans already underway to expand the franchise model to four additional routes within two months and ultimately across 32 total routes in Dhaka. By replacing high-risk competition among individual bus operators with coordinated corporate management, authorities aim to significantly reduce traffic congestion, improve passenger safety, and provide predictable daily transit for urban commuters.