BRTC plans to operate 79 buses on Dhaka Elevated Expressway
The date of the launch of the service will be announced later after observing vehicular movement on the expressway for some time
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is planning to operate 79 buses on the newly inaugurated Dhaka Elevated Expressway, officials announced today (3 September).
"We have decided to operate 79 buses on the elevated expressway initially. The fare will be charged based on the existing rates," BRTC DGM (Operations) Sukdev Dhali told The Business Standard.
"BRTC buses will run on various routes from Kawla to Farmgate via the expressway. There will be no opportunity for passengers to get off on the way," he added.
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Replying to a query, he said BRTC will use their existing double-decker buses which are already operating on the routes.
Earlier, BRTC Chairman Md Tazul Islam told several media outlets that the state-owned transport corporation has taken the decision to operate buses on the expressway to reduce the hassle of passengers and save the journey time.
He also said BRTC plans to increase the number of buses that will run through the expressway if demands increase.
However, the transport agency later clarified that the service would not be launched immediately.
"The date of the launch of the service will be announced later after observing vehicular movement on the road and the ramps for some time," Hitlar Ball, public relations officer of BRTC, told TBS.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 22.5km stretch of Dhaka Elevated Expressway on Saturday at 3:30pm.
The airport to Farmgate portion of the expressway was opened to the public today at 6:00am.
It takes only 10 to 12 minutes to reach Farmgate from the airport through the expressway.
Depending on the vehicle category, the government has fixed the toll rates on the expressway at a minimum of Tk80 to a maximum of Tk400.
