Route-based company model to ease jams: Robiul 

In a major effort to ease chronic traffic congestions, the government has taken a move to overhaul the capital's public transport system by introducing a route-based company model and relocating major bus terminals outside the city, aiming to improve passenger services and bring greater discipline to its fragmented bus network.

On Thursday the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Sheikh Robiul Alam announced the move at a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat.

The proposed reforms form part of a broader effort to modernise the capital Dhaka's transport network, which has long been plagued by unabated traffic congestion, unregulated bus operations, poor route management and unsafe competition among operators, he added.

The road minister further said under the new route-based company model, all bus owners operating on the same route will be brought under a single company structure, adding, the government believes the system will eliminate unhealthy competition, improve service standards and create a more accountable public transport network.

"For years, buses on the same route have been operating under multiple owners with little coordination. This has resulted in reckless competition, irregular stops and poor passenger service. We want to replace this with an organised and accountable system," the minister pointed out.

According to him, buses operating under the company-based framework will be required to maintain uniform standards in terms of branding, vehicle fitness, service quality and passenger facilities. The government is also encouraging transport operators to gradually introduce electric buses as part of efforts to modernise urban transport and reduce environmental pollution.