The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has long been advocating for a “single bus company” system to restore discipline in the capital’s public transportation.
Through the Bus Route Rationalization project, the DTCA aimed to reduce the number of bus routes and bring all buses under the Dhaka Nagar Paribahan system.
However, the organization is now backtracking from its initial plan.
After an initial failure, the Dhaka Nagar Paribahan service was relaunched on February 25 on the planned Route 21 (Gabtoli-Chashara) with 35 air-conditioned buses.
Before the launch, the authorities had announced that other bus companies operating on this route would be brought under Dhaka Nagar Paribahan, undertaking various initiatives, including reviewing applications from different companies and developing an “attractive” business model to encourage bus owners.
However, within a month, several issues have surfaced, including a decrease in the number of buses, long waiting times for passengers, high fares discouraging commuters and mismanagement.
Challenges
On-ground observations reveal that Dhaka Nagar Paribahan is struggling to compete with other non-AC buses operating on the same route.
No steps have been taken to remove these buses.
Additionally, the reduced number of Dhaka Nagar Paribahan buses has led to long wait times for passengers – ranging from 30 to 40 minutes at bus stops.
At bus counters, records show that in recent days, only seven to 14 trips were recorded per day, with an average of fewer than 10 buses in operation.
Passengers also complained about higher fares – while a non-AC bus fare from College Gate to Gulistan is Tk25, Dhaka Nagar Paribahan charges Tk55.
Counter staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the number of buses had decreased. Ideally, at least 20 buses were needed, but some days, only five to seven were running, they added.
They also noted that securing passengers was difficult due to competition.
Other companies’ buses arrive every 10 minutes, with around 10 different companies operating on the same route.
In contrast, Dhaka Nagar Paribahan buses arrive only every 30 to 40 minutes, making it challenging to retain passengers at stops.
Meanwhile, passengers raised concerns about the fare structure, arguing that the fare was significantly higher than non-AC buses and suggesting a reduction for better affordability.
Akhtar Hossain, waiting at the College Gate bus counter, said it would be better if the fare was at least Tk10 lower. “No one wants to pay double the fare. The traffic congestion on the road remains the same.”
Passengers also pointed out some fare inconsistencies, mentioning that the newly set fare was Tk5.5 per kilometre.
Based on this, the fare from College Gate to Gulistan is Tk55, and from Gulistan to Chashara is Tk80.
However, a direct journey from College Gate to Chashara costs Tk150, whereas if taken on two separate trips, the total should be Tk135.
Statements from authorities
Dhrubo Alam, director of the Bus Route Rationalization project, said: “Currently, 22 buses are operating under Dhaka Nagar Paribahan. We sell around 3,000 to 4,000 tickets daily, which would not be possible with just five buses. On average, 19–20 buses run daily, and we are closely monitoring the situation.”
Regarding the plan to stop other buses operating on the same route, he told this correspondent: “We will not stop non-AC buses. Three companies have already joined our route 21 operations, and another one might join.
“The point is, non-AC buses are not being removed, and we do not expect non-AC passengers to shift to AC buses either.”
When asked about the DTCA’s plan for a single bus company, he said: “After Eid, we might attempt to phase out non-AC buses on other routes, but we cannot do so on this route as there are too many non-AC buses. However, we might consider reducing their numbers.”
Regarding the DTCA’s plans for other routes, Dhrubo added: “We are trying to launch two to three more routes, and we will introduce AC buses on those routes as well. It will not be possible to completely stop the operation of non-AC buses, but we will try to bring them under a single company in some areas.”
Neelima Akhter, executive director of the DTCA, said: “We have asked that other buses stop operating, and we have discussed this with the companies.”
However, these things did not change overnight, she added. “It has become a part of the system, and bus companies are reluctant to merge. For now, we are focusing on developing our own system. Once it is well-established, we will gradually bring other bus companies under this system. Our priority is to get our system running first.”
She also mentioned that some quarters were obstructing the operation of the new Dhaka Nagar Paribahan buses.
“Our passenger numbers are increasing, with 3,000 to 4,000 commuters using the service regularly. We have managed to bring discipline to their commuting. However, in some areas like Gulistan and Narayanganj, there are obstructions, and extortion demands are being made. We have informed the police about this.”
