AC circular buses fail to live up to promises

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Shahed Shafiq
Published : 11:32, Jul 19, 2019 | Updated : 00:12, Jul 20, 2019

BRTC circular buses waiting for their turn to run. Bangla TribuneThe air conditioned circular buses of Dhanmondi-Azimpur route do not leave their starting point unless they get enough passengers; though the buses are supposed to come every five minutes, sometimes, passengers have to wait more than half an hour. The operation of the buses end with only 5-6 trips daily.

On Mar 27, the service was inaugurated by DSCC mayor, Sayeed Khokon to ensure comfortable and secure service for the city residents. It was stated initially that the buses would stop at 36 points where passengers would get on after buying tickets. But now, buses stop only at 12 stoppages and 15 buses operate though there was a plan to increase the number of vehicles.

Several Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, BRTC, drivers say that the delay is caused because the buses leave the starting point when full and often standing passengers are taken even after 51 seats are filled.

These buses are operated by contract with Tk 1530 earned against 51 seats; Tk 20 is taken from standing passengers. Though the depot manager refutes the allegation that to get more passengers the buses are put on ‘rest’ at the starting stoppage.

Efforts to contact BRTC chairman Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan failed. The DSCC mayor said: “the buses are supposed to come every 5-7 minutes but of that does not happen then we will take a step.”

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