Patiya terminal stays idle, buses occupy highway

A bus terminal built at a cost of nearly Tk2 crore in Patiya Municipality of Chattogram has remained largely unused for almost a decade, while buses continue to park and pick up passengers on the busy Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway.
The terminal, located in the Girish Chowdhury Bazar area beside the highway, was completed in November 2014 and inaugurated on December 13 of the same year. It was built with designated facilities for bus parking and passenger pick-up and drop-off.
However, many buses continue to stop along major roads in Patiya town instead of using the terminal, causing traffic congestion and raising concerns over road safety.
During peak hours, several buses often stop at the same points to pick up and drop off passengers, forcing vehicles behind them to move slowly. In some cases, smaller vehicles use the opposite lane to pass, increasing the risk of accidents.
Pedestrians also face safety risks while crossing the highway, particularly when their view is blocked by parked buses.
Md Selim Uddin, general secretary of the Patiya Bus Minibus Owners Welfare Association, said there was no suitable environment at the municipal terminal for parking buses. “There is no adequate security, water or electricity, and lighting facilities are also insufficient,” he said, adding that large potholes have developed inside the terminal.
He also alleged that bus parts are sometimes stolen when vehicles are parked there, discouraging owners and workers from using the facility. Md Amir Faruk, in-charge of the Patiya Traffic Zone, said the issue had been discussed with the Patiya Bus Owners Association.
“They have assured us that the buses will soon be moved from the roadside and parked at the municipal terminal,” he said. He added that the authorities had issued a final warning and would take strict legal action if the instructions were not followed.
Patiya Municipality Administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farhanur Rahman said a meeting was held with leaders of the Bus Owners Association around three months ago, where they agreed to start using the terminal within one to one-and-a-half months. “But they have yet to park their buses at the terminal,” he said.
The UNO said the Patiya traffic authorities had also discussed the matter with the association leaders and that legal action would be taken if the terminal was not made operational.