Staff Correspondent: Ghataracara-Motijheel route first pilot bus franchise in the form of management will be introduced in April 2021, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas. The DSCC mayor expressed this hope at the 14th meeting of the 'Bus Rationalization' committee to bring order in public transport and reduce traffic congestion at the Buriganga Hall of Nagar Bhaban.

"We have finalized the proposals of 22 companies in 9 clusters and 42 routes from experts on bus route rationalization," the mayor said. In light of this, a pilot franchise system is being introduced initially on a part of a route - from Ghatarchar to Motijheel. A specific target has been set to complete the initial phase of the franchise launch by March 31.

Responsibilities have been shared with those who are partners after a thorough analysis. These responsibilities can be fulfilled by their respective partners and authorities within this period. If these activities can be completed, franchise activities can be started in Ghatarchar-Motijheel section.

Barrister Sheikh Taposh expressed hope that the franchise would be implemented in all the routes in phases as a continuation of the piloting activities.

Mentioning that the next meeting of the committee has been called on January 19, he said, "Initially, we have received information that at present, there are 165 buses plying on our planned Ghatarchar-Motijheel route." The owner will sign a joint venture agreement to form the company within this period before the next meeting.

At the time, the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation. Atiqul Islam said, "Dhaka North and South, we both had a manifesto to gift a traffic-free city. Lots of traffic jams in this city and competition to get in front of one bus before another bus. Without discipline, without management."

But today I have talked for a long time about who is responsible. This is a very complex matter. But even then, if we can all work together, the problem will be solved. In this context, we are launching a bus route franchise from Ghatarchar to Motijheel as a pilot.

Among the members of the committee at the meeting were DMP Police Commissioner Moha: Shafiqul Islam, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder, BRTC Chairman Md. Ehsane Elahi, Member Secretary of Bus Route Rationalization Committee and Executive Director of DTCA Khandaker Rakibur Rahman, Supervising Engineer of Traffic Engineering Circle of Dhaka North City Corporation Md. Arifur Rahman, public transport expert. SM Saleh Uddin, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Khandaker Enayet Ullah, President of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Ajmal Uddin Ahmed and Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Ed. Mahbubur Rahman were present.