Mayor inaugurates renovated Mohakhali bus terminal

Dhaka, July 21 (BDNEWS) – Dhaka City Mayor Sadeq Hossain Khoka Thursday inaugurated the Mohakhali inter-city bus terminal that was renovated at a cost of Tk 15 crore.

The Mohakhali terminal is one of the three inter-city bus terminals that underwent renovation recently. Two other terminals in Saidabad and Gabtoli will be inaugurated on July 24 and July 26 respectively.

The Mohakhali terminal was scheduled for opening in December last year, but it was delayed as the contractor failed to complete the work.

The World Bank (WB) funded the renovation project worth Tk 44.20 crore implemented by the Roads and Highways Department as part of the Dhaka Urban Transport Project (DUTP).

Mosaddek Ali Falu, an MP of Dhaka-10 constituency, was present as special guest at the ceremony.

Sources said three private firms would manage the terminals and earn revenue by taking service charges from the buses, and will pay the city corporation a total of Tk 3.25 crore a year for all the three terminals.

According to the agreements between the DCC and the private firms, they will ensure total maintenance and operation of the terminals. They will also ensure security, smooth and safe movement of vehicles and stop extortion.

The private operators will collect Tk 30 from each bus every day, and a bus will stay at a certain lane for 30 minutes for loading and unloading passengers. The companies will collect the money through pre-paid or smart cards.

The Mohakhali terminal is mostly used by buses to and from northern region, including Mymensingh, Tangail, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Bogra and Rangpur.

BDNEWS/1912 hrs.