The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in a bid to reduce traffic banned rickshaws in three key routes in the capital.
Dhaka South Mayor Syeed Khokon, who heads a bus route rationalization committee made the announcement on Wednesday (Jul 3).
The Pragati Sharani Road from Kuril to Sayedabad via Rampura and Khilgaon, Mirpur Road from Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate and New Elephant Road from Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection will be off limits to the three-wheeler manual vehicle from Sunday (Jul 7).
However, the aforementioned routes have been off limits to rickshaws for a long time but the rules were ignored due to the traffic police’s laxity over the matter. The new ban is merely a move to reinforce the old rule more strongly.
The Dhanmondi-New market area, however, where the circular bus service has been launched will not be completely free of rickshaws, said people familiar with the matter.
Dhanmondi circular bus route:
The circular bus in Dhanmondi will run in two routes. In the first route, the bus will start off from Azimpur, go through New market-Science Lab-Dhanmondi 2-Satmasjid Road-Dhanmondi 27. From there it will turn around and go through Sobhanbag-Rasel Square-Kalabagan-Dhanmondi 6-Dhanmondi 3-Science Lab-New Market-Azimpur.
The second time the bus will start from Azimpur and go through Palashi-Dhaka University area-Nilkhet-Katabon-Bata crossing-Dhanmondi 2-Satmasjid Road.
The route plan has been made to reduce caused by buses making U-turns at turning points at the road.
Another route for the circular bus will start from Sobhanbag and go through Rasel Sqaure-Kalabagan-Dhanmondi 6-Dhanmondi 3-Science-Lab-Bata crossing. From there, it will move through Kataban-Nilket-Palashi-Azimpur-New market-Science-Lab-Dhanmondi-3-Dhanmondi 6- Kalabagan-Sobhanbag-Dhanmondi 27-Satmasjid Road-Dhanmondi-2-Bata crossing-Kataban-Nilkhet-Palashi-Azimpur. The bus will start off from New market the second time.
Although the bus service has been launched, it’s yet to cover all the routes it is supposed to. Admitting it, Dhaka South Mayor Khokon said that these buses are not yet popular and according to DSCC since rickshaws ply on the main roads, the movement of these buses and other transports are hindered.
As per the city corporation orders, although rickshaws are banned on three key routes, they will be allowed from Dhanmondi 2-Satmasjid Road-Dhanmondi 27. They’ll also be allowed to ply through the Palashi-Nilkhet-Kataban route.
Experts believe that given that rickshaws will still be allowed on certain routes, it will do little to ease traffic.
Responding to queries on the matter, DSCC Mayor Sayed Khokon told Bangla Tribune, “The circular bus can’t cover the whole route yet.”
He added that firstly, the Mirpur Road, Science Lab to Shahbag road and Kuril-Rampura-Sayedabad road will be made rickshaw-free.
He said that once these routes are emptier, circular buses will increase which will give the citizens comfortable public transport and reduce traffic.