No unauthorised buses will ply in Dhaka: Taposh

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No buses and minibuses will be allowed to ply in Dhaka city without approval or having no route permits, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Sunday.

Speaking at the inuguration ceremony of ‘Dhaka Nagar Paribahan’ services at Mohammadpur in the capital on Sunday morning, he said the Bus Route Rationalisation Committee has launched the ‘Dhaka Nagar Paribahan’ on experimental basis to resolve traffic congestion and bring discipline in the public transport system in the capital. The Dhaka Nagar Paribahan buses will ply on Ghatar Char in Keraniganj to Kanchpur in Narayanganj.

Bus Route Rationalisation Committee’s convener and DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said, “I request the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) not to give any kind of opportunities to anyone else on the roads in Dhaka city. The buses and minibuses will have to ply on their designated routes at any cost. None will be allowed to go beyond it. All the buses and minibuses plying in the Dhaka city will be brought under bus route rationalistaion system.”

He said 50 buses and minibuses have been allocated to the Dhaka Nagar Paribahan service to ply on Ghatar Char-Kanchpur route. Fifty more buses would be added to the fleet shortly. Later, the number of buses would be increased taking the requirement of passengers into consideration.

“Today, the drivers of Dhaka Nagar Paribahan services have been honoured. They were not given any respect in the past. They were subjected to abusive language. Today, they have been honoured. They have received specific uniforms. They will receive salaries from the company.”

Addressing the passengers, the mayor said no more pushes during passengers get into and get down from buses. Passengers will have to get into buses from specific counters. They will have to collect e-tickets. No passengers will be allowed to travel without tickets.

Dedicating the maiden initiative of the Bus Rationalisation Service to late Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Anisul Huq, mayor Taposh said mayor Anisul Huq dreamt of a mass transport system through the Bus Route Rationalisation or company in Dhaka city. “Today, we have taken this new journey keeping his dream in our hearts. Buses and minibuses will be operated in other parts of Dhaka city in phases,” he said.

Following Mayor Taposh’s speech, Road Transport minister Obaidul Quader inugurated the Nagar Paribahan Service joining from the secretariat virtually.

Besides, DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam, DTCA’s executive director Nilima Akter, Sadeque Khan MP, BRTC chairman Tajul Islam, Dhaka Sarak Malik Samity’s general secretary Khondker Enayetullah, among others, were present.