Idle Mohakhali buses find temporary home in Purbachal

Buses that once spent long hours clogging the chaotic Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal are gradually being moved to a temporary depot in the quieter surroundings of Purbachal, as the government seeks to ease congestion at the busy terminal.

The government has designated Sector 3 of Purbachal as a temporary depot and arranged a shed, police security, food and sanitation facilities there. Activities at the temporary depot began on 15 July, according to drivers and security officials.

However, the depot is still far from ready, with buses currently being parked along internal roads as development work continues.

During a visit on 10 August, around 30 buses belonging to Bilash Paribahan, SR Paribahan, Ena Paribahan, Sarker Paribahan, Alam Asia, Sonali Bangla and other operators were found parked on different roads in Sector 3, just a few hundred metres from the 300 Feet Expressway.

Bus owners’ association officials said more than 1,000 buses operate to and from different districts through the Mohakhali terminal.

A temporary police outpost, resting facilities for drivers and conductors, washrooms, bathrooms and several food stalls have been set up in the area. Land development work for a workshop, a larger resting facility and the bus depot was also under way.

Abdul Latif, a driver of SR Paribahan, which operates on the Dhaka-Burimari route, told the Daily Sun that he had been using the temporary depot for the past two days.

“I have been regular at the temporary depot for the last two days. Like me, the night buses come here to stay for a long time. A total of two buses from SR Paribahan are kept in the depot. I came at 7 in the morning. I will start from Mohakhali terminal just one hour before my trip at 8 in the evening. We will start the return journey from Burimari at 5am tomorrow,” he said.

But the temporary arrangement has its shortcomings.  “Despite having fans, the heat inside the drivers’ rest rooms is one of the problems. I sleep inside my bus due to security concerns,” Latif said.

Another SR Paribahan driver, Ershadul Islam, said food and servicing facilities remained major problems.

“Food and car servicing are the major problems in the newly built temporary shed. There were two food hotels, but after an altercation with customers, one pulled out its business. Now there is one, which is not up to standard,” he said.

He said buses also needed servicing, including washing, after every trip, but such facilities were not yet available.

“The work on a service workshop is going on there. I hope it will take time, but it will help to reduce congestion at Mohakhali Bus Terminal. Besides, we are enjoying a noise-free environment. Movement from any part of the capital is also easier for us,” he said.

Police sergeant Abdur Rashid said six police personnel had been deployed to ensure security at the depot, while Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) had deployed Ansar members.

Saiful Islam, general secretary of the bus owners’ association, attributed the limited use of the depot to drivers’ reluctance and the incomplete facilities.

“When we put pressure on drivers for not keeping buses in Mohakhali terminal, they park their buses in open spaces in Uttara and Tongi,” he said.

“The second thing is the depot is not ready; we are now keeping buses on roads. This is the reason we are not exerting much pressure on drivers. But once it is completed with resting, food, workshop and other facilities, the buses will move there. RAJUK assured us that they can ready the facilities within 20 days from now,” Saiful said.

He added that sports and entertainment facilities were also being arranged for drivers.

RAJUK Superintending Engineer Khandaker Md Wahid Sadiq said RAJUK had allocated 10 acres of land for two years for the temporary arrangement.

“Now, we are just preparing a 100-foot-long piece of land for buses, workshops and restroom facilities at the request of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and as per the decision of the Prime Minister’s Office. Besides, we are preparing a detailed design. Following the design, permanent structures will be constructed,” he said.