Dhaka, Aug 29 (V7N) – Traffic jams and public transport chaos have become daily challenges in Dhaka, with vehicles moving slower than walking speed in some areas, wasting millions of working hours every day.

The chief advisor of the interim government recently announced on his verified Facebook page that all buses in the city will soon be brought under a single management system. The plan aims to streamline routes, reduce fare fraud, and restore order on the capital’s roads.

Efforts to rationalize bus routes are not new. A committee was formed in 2015, and several experimental programs were launched, but all failed due to various obstacles. Experts say that if buses follow specific routes and stops, passenger suffering could be significantly reduced.

Md. Saifun Newaz, Assistant Professor at BUET’s Accident Research Institute, said, “Controlling buses under a few regulated routes will eliminate individual authority and allow the state to manage traffic efficiently.”

Traffic Sergeant Zahid Hasan highlighted infrastructure challenges, including missing road markings and the lack of designated parking areas, which further exacerbate congestion.

Despite hope for change, concerns about implementation persist. Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Dhaka Transport Owners Association, noted that buses from multiple companies currently operate chaotically. “They should be grouped and assigned routes, but I am skeptical about the effectiveness of this plan at present,” he said.

Passengers also remain cautious. “We have heard similar promises before, but have never seen real change,” said one commuter.

With annual economic losses estimated at around 37,000 crore taka due to traffic congestion and disorganized public transport, experts and citizens alike are urging swift and effective implementation of the proposed unified bus system.

END/SMA/AJ