Will counter-based bus operation fail again?

The authorities concerned, in partnership with private transport operators, recently launched counter-based ticket-selling bus service on a few routes in Dhaka city to provide commuters a safer and more comfortable experience by maintaining scheduled operations and preventing overcrowding and fare manipulation. Launched with much fanfare with buses coloured in pink, the service raised some hope among city people, who suffer every day for its chaotic and inefficient public transport system, that the situation will improve and their suffering lessen, if not end. But within days of the launch, the service has almost collapsed and seems to be destined to fail mostly due to non-compliance of regulations and protest by transport workers, much to the frustration of commuters. This is not the only initiative that fails to bring order in the public transport system in the megacity of around 20 million residents. Several other initiatives undertaken to improve the system have either failed or yielded little improvement. The counter-based ticket-selling system, which bars buses from picking up passengers from any place other than designated counters, suffered a setback at the outset. The initiative has not only failed to lessen the suffering of commuters but also left them to encounter a new challenge - no bus available to reach destinations. Transport staff working in buses on the routes in question started work abstention demanding that either their daily wage be raised or they be allowed to pick up passengers from anywhere they wish. Their argument is that the counter-based operation has decreased their daily earning which needs to be adjusted through pay hike. The strike has forced most of the pink buses to stay off the road, compounding the trouble of the commuters. It has created a chaotic situation in which commuters are being compelled to spend more and struggle to reach their destinations. 

There is no denying that bus workers are low-paid as wages in the transport sector, still an informal sector, are not regulated. So their concerns should be looked into and addressed. But the authorities should also examine whether the syndicates, which dominate the transport sector in Dhaka, are behind the chaos. In fact, the powerful transport syndicates resist any attempts to reform the sector.

The pink bus service has posed a threat to the monopoly of the syndicates and there were reports of deliberate obstruction, sabotage, and political pressure against the initiative. The authorities are also found to be indifferent to the non-compliance of the regulations. They supported the counter-based initiative in its early days, but the enforcement of regulations quickly waned. Without proper monitoring, the buses began to operate irregularly, some even failing to follow their designated routes.

Several other factors have also contributed to the failure of the counter-based bus service. One of the biggest flaws in the initiative was the lack of proper planning and execution. Though the idea of counter-based ticketing was promising, it has been poorly implemented. There are not enough counters, and those that exist often fail to operate efficiently due to a lack of service-oriented mentality. The authorities have allowed operation of other public buses on the routes designated for counter-based buses. Commuters find it inconvenient to travel to counters just to buy tickets when other buses on the same routes are available without such restrictions.

Unlike other public buses that cover a wide range of routes, the pink bus service has a very limited fleet, resulting in long wait times and interval. Many passengers who initially opted for the counter-based service eventually abandoned it due to its unreliable frequency. In contrast, traditional buses --- despite their dilapidated conditions --- are more readily available and convenient for commuters.

A holistic and well-coordinated approach is necessary to address the persistent chaos in the transport sector. Some key steps should include strengthening regulatory frameworks by establishing a central transport authority, increasing the number of government-run buses, introducing more dedicated bus lanes, and ensuring proper scheduling to improve efficiency. Above all, the most important thing to bring order in the transport system is the authorities' determination. If they show reluctance to enforce relevant regulations, no initiative will yield any positive results.

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