There has been a shocking lack of progress in the long awaited bus franchise plan, says Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor, Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
“Most decisions taken in previous meetings of the bus route rationalization committee are yet to be implemented, so we are planning to start from scratch,” he added.
The DSCC mayor made the comments after holding his first meeting as convener of the bus route rationalization committee at Nagar Bhaban (South) on Tuesday. It was the 12th meeting of the committee thus far.
The bus franchise plan was taken up in 2015 to bring discipline to the public transport system and was the brainchild of late Anisul Huq, former DNCC mayor.
Many decisions, but no implementation
Anisul Huq was the first convener of the bus route rationalization committee, and Sayeed Khokon, former DSCC mayor, took charge of the committee after Anisul’s death. Taposh took charge as DSCC mayor and became the new convener of the committee by default on May 16.
In the five years since the plan’s inception, there has been almost zero progress.
After Tuesday’s committee meeting, Taposh said: “Exemplifying the lack of progress, the committee had previously decided the approval of new route permits would be suspended until the new system was launched. However, the approval of route permits has still not been stopped.”
Responding to a query, the DSCC mayor said: “If we are unable to get the expected support from authorities concerned, we will inform the Local Government Ministry of the matter.”
New decision will be based on feasibility study
Taposh also said a consulting firm did a feasibility study on the bus franchise plan last year.
“The committee will analyze the inception reports on bus route franchising and a new decision will be taken on November 10,” he added.
The consulting firm’s inception report focused on two issues: the process of bus route rationalization, and the depot and terminal operation system.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam was also present at the committee meeting, along with other members.
The DNCC Mayor said: “As per the study, we are giving priority to implementing the franchising bus operation system, as 63% of people use buses as their main mode of public transport in Dhaka.”
He also said both city corporations remain committed to implementing a modern transport system and are optimistic of overcoming all barriers.
On April 3, then DSCC mayor Sayeed Khokon had said franchising companies will provide bus services on 20-22 routes of Dhaka city. Some 4,500 new buses—half of which will be air conditioned—will be introduced in the capital, and all old buses will be removed.
The target was to launch the modern bus service under franchised companies by 2020