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The government has taken once again a move to bring discipline in the city's bus service through launching Rapid Pass, a smart ticketing system, for the Haitjheel circular bus service and a drive to withdraw aged and unfit vehicles today (Sunday).
Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan will inaugurate the Rapid Pass system for the Hatijheel Chakrakar bus service from the FDC ticket counter at a ceremony.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority in association with the district administration, police, transport owners and workers association will launch the drive against thousands of unfit buses, mini buses, trucks and covered vans aged beyond 20 years and 25 years old respectively in the country.
The Rapid Pass which is successfully used in the metro rail was also used in the Hatirjheel and Gulshan Chaka bus services after the launch of integrated tickets in the country.
But its use in those was stopped due to unavailability of the facilities like topup.
At present, 1.41 million Rapid Passes are now being used in the metro rail.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority has still 180,000 Rapid Passes in the stock. Officials said 250,000 more passes are likely to arrive next month.
Meanwhile, against the government's plan to withdraw aged and old vehicles, Greater Chattogram Public and Freight Transport Federation announced to launch a strike beginning from 6am today (Sunday).
The federation demanded suspension of the official order and revision of time that defines 'economic life' through discussion.
Advisor Fouzul Kabir, however, refuting the demand said the drive will start today (Sunday) when his attention was drawn about the strike.
According to the BRTA, over 80,000 buses and trucks are now on the streets running with economic life over.
Though the transport owners demanded counting end of economic life after 25 years, transport expert Mohammad Shamsul Hoque said calculating end of economic life on years is wrong concept as fitness depends on regular checking of vehicles and maintenance.
He cited example that a person aged 80 can be fit by maintaining regularity in life but a young man can be unfit for his lifestyle.
The Dhaka city's bus service has always been chaotic due to political control and non-cooperation by different government agencies and transport leaders.
smunima@yahoo.com