Bus services can improve in 3 months if owners want: Rabiul

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said on Monday that bus services in Dhaka can be improved within three months if bus owners want.
He was speaking at a discussion with bus owners on bus route rationalisation organised by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority at Sorok Bhan in Tejgaon.
“If the bus owners want and start from today, at least 50% of Dhaka’s buses will come under discipline, and within three months there will be an overall change,” the minister said.
He said companies must take responsibility for the quality of buses, passenger services and discipline.
“I will not recognise any individual bus owner; I will recognise the company. The bus operates under your company. If you cannot ensure these things, do not keep that owner’s bus under the company,” he said.
He said owners who could not ensure passenger convenience or discipline among staff should not keep their buses under the company.
“No one will be allowed to do business by challenging the state and the system. I will seek these changes within a specified timeframe. Otherwise, if necessary, we will form new companies. If quality services still cannot be ensured, we will cancel the routes and seek to take measures at the government level,” he said.
The minister proposed assigning a specific colour to buses on each route and urged owners to improve existing buses through denting and painting rather than replacing them all at once.
He also called for buses to stop only at designated stops, with a ticketing system and fixed departure times.
“The police will know; BRTA will know. Buses cannot stop wherever someone raises a hand, nor can passengers be picked up or dropped off anywhere,” he said.
Owners who cannot control their drivers and helpers should reconsider staying in the business, he warned.
The government wanted to bring the changes through cooperation rather than force, he said, but would take tough action if counselling and discussions failed.
The government would facilitate improvements but would not provide direct financial assistance to owners, he said. It would also work to make bus stops safer and more comfortable and gradually introduce dedicated bus lanes.