Approval of new routes from Dhaka to southern dists soon

Congestion on the Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover, one of the entry points to the capital, is likely to worsen, as approval process of new routes from Dhaka to the country's southern districts through the Padma Bridge will start soon.

At present, over 400 buses are operating on the route, connecting the south and western regions with the capital. The number has increased rapidly after inauguration of the country's longest bridge in June 2022.

Sources said majority of these buses are continuing operation illegally due to suspension of their route permits in a meeting on September 5, 2022. The transport owners are demanding to legalise the bus services, being operated without route permits.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has also agreed to resume the route permits. But allowing new route permits without study might deteriorate the traffic congestion on the flyover due to lack of alternative routes. During weekends, traffic congestion on the flyover forces the commuters to wait for hours.

Road Transport and Highway Division (RTHD) and BRTA held a meeting on the route permit agenda on July 27 with RTHD Senior Secretary Mohammad Ehsanul Haque in the chair. Representatives from DSCC, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners Association, among others, opined in favour of resuming the bus truck route permits.

DMP Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Sufian Ahmed assured the meeting that there would be no problem in traffic management. The meeting finally agreed to execute the decision in coordination with BRTA, Local Government Division, Bangladesh Police, and transport owners and workers associations, the sources added.

smunima@yahoo.com