Gulshan-only bus service 'Dhaka Chaka' fails to satisfy commuters

The Gulshan-only AC bus service “Dhaka Chaka” has run into troubled waters, or so it seems, with many commuters complaining about the service being too expensive.

The service was introduced after the July 1 cafe terror attack in a bid to enhance security in the diplomatic region of the capital by limiting public vehicles’ movement in the area.

Although the Dhaka North City Corporation had said that the service would commence with a fleet of 26 buses, it actually began with only 16 buses on Aug 10.

Rahat Khan, a private firm employee,  had to wait for 25 minutes at the Kakoli stoppage, ticket in hand, at 3 in the afternoon. He alleged that such delays were normal with the bus service.

American International University-Bangladesh student Pia Dutta Puja had much the same story to tell.

“The service isn’t very bad, but one has to wait a long time after buying a ticket”, she said.

Private firm employee Zahid Hussain rued the fact that the bus allowed more passengers in it than its seat capacity permitted it to carry.

“They charge the fare for an AC service but one cannot bear the heat inside the bus due to overcrowding. Non-AC buses are better then,” he said.

Many people also found the uniform fare of Tk 15 (irrespective of the distance travelled) as exorbitant.

Dhaka Thai Ltd employee Fahad Bin Majid believes that a reconsideration of the fare structure is needed.

A huge crowd of commuters could be seen waiting for the bus at the DCC counter.

Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq feels such crowds could be lessened if more buses were pressed into service.

At a press conference on Friday, he hoped that this problem would see a quick end. “Too many buses could not be deployed at one go”, he said, and added that more buses were on the way.

Commuter Mamun Sheikh said that one had to fish out double the normal fare owing to route reorganization.

“I have to pay double to go to the Shooting Club from Kakoli because I have to change the bus once”, he said.

Gulshan Society General Secretary Omar Sadat said that these problems were coming to the fore because of the haste with which the bus service was launched after the July 1 attack.

He was optimistic, though, that the problems would soon see an end.

Sadat also said that some non-AC buses would also hit the road along with AC buses.

“The fare will then go down”, he said.