BRTC launches buses for Dhaka schools

BRTC launches buses for Dhaka schools


BRTC launches buses for Dhaka schools
FE Report

State-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation has rolled out 14 buses for Dhaka's 26 top schools situated in the city's busy Mirpur and Azimpur areas.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain inaugurated the buses at Mirpur Bangla College, saying the service would cut congestion during the busiest hours of the day.

The buses, whose number will be increased if they become popular, will run from Mirpur 12 to Azimpur after a gap of 10 minutes. They will operate from 6 am to 9am and 12pm to 3 pm.

With the service, the BRTC has rolled out 100 buses in the capital to ease traffic jam, Hossain said, adding the state-owned bus operator also has a plan to add 1,000 buses including double-deckers in its fleet by year-end.

He said the long-awaited school bus service would lessen pressure of motorised vehicles on key city areas where top schools are located. It also will ensure some worry-free time for the parents and guardians.

Officials said the BRTC, with the help of Dhaka City Corporation, has built passenger shades at 33 stoppages within the route and introduced woman guides to pick and drop students.

Traffic policemen have been ordered to give priority to the buses so that the children reach their destinations in time.

The authorities have also introduced GPS technology in each of the buses to help guardians track their kids through text messaging. Television has been introduced to entertain the children.

Officials said the government has planned to introduce more BRTC school buses in other routes of the city gradually after evaluating success of the Mirpur-Azimpur service.

The latest bus service has been launched after a Dhaka Metropolitan police study blamed 50 top schools and colleges for worsening the city's traffic gridlock.

Five schools and colleges have been blamed for bringing traffic to a near halt in the busy Mirpur road. English medium schools mushroomed in Dhanmondi are found guilty of blocking traffic in the posh residential area.

Other schools are blamed for causing traffic chaos in the main arteries at Uttara, Bailey Road, Malibagh Road, Farmgate, Moha-mmadpur and Kakoli crossing near the Dhaka Cantonment.