Authorities grant bus operators three-months to close counters outside terminals

Administration allows operators to set up ticket sales counters if they use designated pickup points

file photo

Bus owners have been given three months to close all bus counters outside the terminals to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka and modernise traffic management.

A public notice issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Apr 5 ordered the removal.

If the counters at the bus terminal remain closed after three months, the city corporation said that operators will be allowed to pick up passengers from their own designated locations.

In such cases, even if ticket sales counters are set up along the roadside outside the terminal, they will not be prohibited, as long as passengers are not picked up from those spots.

The notice, signed by Acting DMP Commissioner Md Sarwar, underlines inter-district night coach counters operating without route permits within Dhaka metropolis as one of the main causes of traffic congestion.

These illegal counters, random parking, and boarding and alighting of passengers are causing severe traffic congestion in the metropolis even at night, the notice said, adding that these illegal establishments need to be removed quickly to improve citizen services and ensure smooth traffic flow.

“Inter-district bus counters cannot be operated in any place other than Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Sayedabad bus terminals.

“The owners concerned have been requested to remove these counters on their own initiative within the next seven working days.

“Otherwise, the DMP will take strict legal action including imprisonment, fine, cancellation of route permits and confiscation of goods through mobile courts as per different sections of the Road Transport Act, 2018.”

Following the notice, the Bus Owners’ Association requested time from the DMP and the two city corporations, along with several demands.

The association also held multiple meetings with administrators of both city corporations and DMP officials.

In addition, a meeting was held with the Transport Owners’ Association and several government agencies, including the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam told bdnews24.com that the operators would be given three months to run counters outside the terminal, during which they must fully comply with the conditions.

He added that the pick-up and drop-off points would be designated by the operators themselves, and passengers would not be picked up or dropped off from the roadside outside the terminal.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan Milton said, “We have taken some effective decisions after holding meetings with those involved in joint traffic management.”

Ticket counters will be allocated inside the terminal under specific policies in the names of the actual bus companies, he added.

The Bus Owners’ Association, DSCC, and traffic police will work together to distribute the counters.

“The buses will have to use the five designated bus bays instead of using the terminal as a depot.

“Each bus will be allowed to wait for a maximum of 20 to 30 minutes to pick up passengers. No bus will be allowed to stop or pick up passengers at the ticket sales points.

“We have implemented this in different places in phases. We will not allow illegal operations to continue. They may choose a location of their own, but it must be legal. The company must have a valid registration and a licence issued by the city corporation.”