Dhaka Nagar Paribahan operations resume on new route

Under the green cluster, Dhaka Nagar Paribahan resumed Tuesday its services after more than two years on a new route from Gabtoli to Narayanganj with air-conditioned buses.

However, several bus services are already operating on the same route.

Road Transport and Highways Division Senior Secretary Mohammad Ehsanul Hoque launched the buses at Sangsad Bhaban gate-1 in presence of officials, including Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Nileema Akter.

Mr Hoque said the 32 kilometre route-21 of the green cluster was opened after revising the alignment on an experimental basis.

Sharing data on Strategic Transport Plan and revised STP, he said ridership of the buses has dropped by 9.0 per cent from 23 per cent in 2014-15 whereas the modal share of small passenger vehicles like motorcycle, rickshaw and illegal passenger transports increased.

The DTCA took the initiative to resume the Nahar Paribahan as part of its project to introduce the bus route franchise (BRF), which is a concept like "one company for one route".

As the Rail and Road Transport Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan at a meeting in November last year announced to open the BRF on all routes under the green cluster on February 25, the DTCA managed to resume the Paribhaban on an experimental basis.

As other bus operators did not join the initiative, the DTCA launched the service with 35 AC buses of Borak Paribahan.

A fare chart has been fixed with the first two kilometers to be charged at Tk 20 and Tk 5.5 per km thereafter. However, the fare chart has not been approved till the filing of this report at 9:00 pm on Tuesday. The bus stoppages are proposed to be at Shyamoli, Kolabagan, Science Lab, Shahbagh, Mathsho Bhaban, Press Club, Gulistan, Hanif Flyover, Kajla, Signboard and Chashara.

smunima@yahoo.com