Transport authorities launched a bus franchise system across six long routes and one circular route in Dhaka on Sunday also aiming to restore order and discipline to the capital's public transport network.
The service was inaugurated by Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, chief coordinator of the Paribahan Malik Sramik Oikya Parishad. The initiative represents a joint effort by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), transport owners, workers' unions, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka's two city corporations.
Under the bus route rationalisation scheme the 98 existing routes have been consolidated into 32 main routes alongside 25 color-coded circular routes. Over 550 buses will operate on the newly designated routes under unified rules.
Key routes include VIP City Paribahan operating 253 non-AC buses from Gazipur's Shibbari to Azimpur and Dhakar Chaka running 20 AC buses via the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Additionally, 14 existing operators have merged into six companies to serve routes connecting Mirpur, Keraniganj, Mohammadpur and Demra.
DTCA Executive Director Moshiur Rahman reaffirmed that authorities will not revert to undisciplined bus operations. Transport companies have been granted a two-month period to finalize all remaining legal and organizational requirements.
