Dhaka introduces pink buses with ticket counter system to streamline public transport

Around 2,610 buses will operate under the new system

Buses from 21 companies operating via Abdullahpur to different destinations in Dhaka will run on a ticket counter-based system, with all vehicles painted pink.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association General Secretary Md Saiful Alam announced on Tuesday that the system would be launched on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference at the association’s office on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, he said around 2,610 buses would operate under the new system, and no passengers would be allowed to board without a ticket.

Saiful said the initiative was aimed at bringing order to the city’s public transport system.

“For the past 16 years, buses and minibuses have been running under rental agreements with drivers, ignoring regulations. This has led to unhealthy competition, haphazard passenger boarding, traffic congestion, disorder, and accidents,” he said.

“Passengers must purchase tickets from designated counters. Buses will stop only at fixed stations for boarding," he added.

Saiful said a meeting was held on Dec 19, chaired by Road Transport and Bridges Advisor Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, to discuss traffic management, reducing congestion, and curbing air pollution in Dhaka.

“The meeting decided that vehicle owners must shift from trip-based contracts with drivers to fortnightly or monthly agreements.

“From Thursday, drivers on the Gazipur-Abdullahpur-Dhaka route will follow the ticket counter system,” according to Saiful.

He also said bus drivers and assistants were undergoing training on operating under the counter-based system.

By the end of the month, buses running in Mirpur, Gabtoli, and Mohammadpur would also transition to the ticket counter model, he added.