The government has taken an initiative to purchase 200 electric buses (EV buses) to make Dhaka’s public transport system more environmentally friendly and passenger-friendly. Of these, 100 buses are planned to operate on various routes for women, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said.
He made the remarks Tuesday, August 18, at the inauguration of BRTC’s “Women’s Bus Service (Pink Bus)” program in Tejgaon.
The road transport minister said that, under the government’s plan, these buses will be purchased through a direct procurement process. Completing the international procurement process for buses through a project, including approvals and tendering, could take at least a year and a half. The decision to go through direct procurement was made to launch environmentally friendly public transport quickly.
He said 14 new buses are initially being launched across a total of 13 routes in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Bogura. Ten buses will run on 10 routes in Dhaka, and two double-decker buses will run on two routes each in Chattogram and Bogura. The number of buses and the scope of routes will be expanded further in the future.
He further said EV buses are now essential to building an environmentally friendly transport system that reduces dependence on fossil fuels. These buses will also play an important role as part of the plan to establish a multimodal transport system in Dhaka.
Sheikh Rabiul Alam said women passengers need a safe, passenger-friendly environment not only after boarding the bus, but also while waiting and while getting off. If harassment, discomfort, or unsafe conditions arise while boarding or alighting, women’s interest in using public transport declines. Ensuring safe travel for women is therefore the state’s responsibility, he said.
He said women make up roughly half the country’s population and make important contributions to nation-building and the economy. Ensuring safe transport is necessary so that women can put their capabilities to work for the country, he said.
On BRTC’s current management, the minister said the corporation currently operates more than 500 buses, with a total fleet of roughly 1,200 buses or more. BRTC is not currently operating at a loss; rather, it is at break-even. Even so, changes are needed in the corporation’s management, operations, and quality of service.
The minister also cautioned that the new bus service for women must not be discontinued after a few months, as has happened with various past initiatives.
He said the service launching today must see its quality improve within two months. Management must improve daily to make the service safer and more passenger-friendly. This initiative cannot be limited to its launch alone, he said; sustaining, strengthening, and expanding the service in the future is the real challenge, and the ministry and relevant officials are prepared to meet that challenge.
Also present as special guests at the event were Railways Ministry and Road Transport and Highways Division Deputy Minister Habibur Rashid, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque, and Women and Children Affairs Ministry Secretary Yasmin. BRTC Chairman (Additional Secretary) Abdul Latif Molla presided over the event.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report