Dhaka Nagar Paribahan service has been launched as part of Bus Route Rationalization programme to bring the public transport of the city within a system.
The buses will run on the Ghatarchar-Kanchpur bridge route via Mohammadpur, Gulistan, Motijheel and Signboard.
On Sunday, the two mayors of Dhaka inaugurated jointly the Dhaka Nagar Poribahan taking a ride in the bus on the route.
After the inauguration, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Atiqul Islam bought tickets and boarded a bus (Trans Silva) from Mohammadpur bus stand and went down to Shankar bus stand in the capital. The fare of their journey amounted to Tk 11.
According to the authorities concerned, the operations started on this route experimentally with 50 buses including 30 double-deckers. The number of buses on this route will be increased to 100 in the next two months. E-ticketing system has been introduced in Dhaka Nagar Paribahan from the very first day. The fare on this route will beTk 2.2 per kilometer.
During the event, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam said that due to lack of well-planned transport system in the city, there is unhealthy competition among the buses of different companies causing accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to gradually establish discipline in the transport system of the city.
The DNCC mayor said,“It was in the public interest to ensure the cleanliness of each bus, including updating its fitness certificates. The bus driver must have valid licence, and the driver and helper must wear separate uniforms.”
The DSCC mayor has recently said that this initiative will be the turning point for public transportation in the capital. The attempt focuses on gradually establishing a system bringing discipline in the roads of Dhaka city.
Earlier, the Dhaka Transport Coordinating Authority (DTCA) had provided training to around 70 drivers and employed staff members involved in the bus route rationalization programme. The trainees were given ideas and training on bus route rationalization activities, public transport management and accident prevention, traffic sign, signal and marking introduction and road transport laws, policies and regulations.