Govt responsible for 80% of road chaos: Bus owners

• Bus owners blame govt for 80% chaos in city roads
• Corruption and infrastructure issues highlighted
• Criticism of vehicle import policies
• Need for driver training centres
• 1,646 Dhaka city buses have no route permits, DTCA says 
• Drive against unfit, buses with no route permit, starting soon
• 167 bus stoppages earmarked; 110 completed 

Bus owners have accused the government of being responsible for the majority of traffic problems across Dhaka city.

Rafiqul Islam Kajal, joint convener of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, claimed, "While there are many issues in the transport sector, most of them are structural. The government and administration are responsible for 80% of these problems."

During a discussion on Extortion-free road management at the National Press Club today (3 September), Kajal highlighted several issues contributing to the chaos, including a shortage of drivers, corruption in the licensing system, and a lack of proper infrastructure.

He also criticised the government's policies on vehicle imports and subsidies for the transportation sector.

"We are forced to buy Indian buses, which are of lower quality. Due to government policies, the prices of other buses have increased. If we buy expensive vehicles, it impacts fares, so the government needs to create easier terms for buying vehicles," Kajal said.

Regarding driver licensing, Kajal noted that the process has become a business that deters drivers from obtaining licences and called for the establishment of training centres for drivers. He added, "We need subsidies as a service sector. The government must address these issues and improve the overall condition of the city's roads."

Mohammad Saiful Alam, the convener of the association, underscored that bus owners alone cannot control the chaos.

In response, Deputy Transport Planner of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Dhrubo Alam said approximately 1,646 (or 36%) of the 4,500 buses plying across Dhaka city streets currently have no route permit.

"Although 7,091 buses are registered as per documents, only 4,500 are currently operating in Dhaka city. Many of these registered buses are no longer in service or are otherwise inactive," he added.

Dhrubo Alam, who is also the project director of the Bus Route Rationalisation Project, announced, "We will soon launch a drive against unfit buses. Vehicles without route permits or fitness certificates will be barred from operating in Dhaka as part of our efforts to restore order on the city streets."

He also discussed the initiative to build bus stops to prevent random pickups, stating, "A total of 167 bus stops have been planned across Dhaka, with 110 already completed. Once fully operational, buses will no longer be allowed to stop randomly."

Regarding bus owners' demand for bus stops at intersections, Alam explained, "Bus stops cannot be placed at intersections due to traffic engineering regulations. They must be located at least 30 metres (100 feet) away to avoid slowing vehicle movement and causing traffic congestion."

The DTCA official also addressed concerns about the presence of both mechanised and non-mechanised vehicles on the same routes.

"Around 200,000 registered rickshaws are operating under the two Dhaka city corporations, but complaints suggest there are even more on the streets. We will coordinate with relevant agencies to address this and restore order," Dhrubo Alam said.