Dhaka, Bangladesh – In a move to revolutionize a disorderly transport system of a city, a new system was introduced by the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association that would revolutionize one’s ride in the capital. From Feb 4, around 2,610 pink buses of 21 companies took to the streets, connecting routes between Abdullahpur to other key destinations in Dhaka. The massive makeover introduces a new, systematized, and ticketed system to put an end to chronic jam, uncontrolled services, and safety risks.
The new system is to revolutionize transport in Dhaka, one of the over-populated cities in the world. The transport system of the city is in disrepute for a lack of order, haphazard boarding procedures, and inconsistency in services. The government’s move is to usher in a new era of transport that is safety-oriented, punctual, and efficient for every traveler.
The Ticketed Fare System: The Real Game Changer
One of the positives of this move is that it introduces a ticketed system of fares, a radical departure from prevailing methods when riders can get in and get off buses at practically any point of their convenience. Under the new system, commuters would be required to purchase their tickets in advance of boarding, making every ride a smooth one. The move is a part of a large effort to put an end to the trend of “contract-based” bus services, when individual bus owners enjoy a free hand over routes and timings, resulting in tardiness, overpricing, and rash driving.
Saiful Alam, General Secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, explained that the new system of tickets would also deliver a better passenger experience in that it would make bus services more predictable. “The system would deliver transparency, such that the passenger is not just receiving a fair price, but is also moving in a more organized way in a better place,” he added.
Predefined Stops and Punctuality
Passengers would be permitted to get in or get off at predetermined stops only in the new system. The action is to put an end to bottlenecks caused in hailing buses in random spots in the streets, making traffic more smooth-flowing. The action would also mean that buses would be punctual in their timings, to a schedule, without causing unpredictable holdups that have marred the Dhaka bus system for a long time.
One of the plus points of such a system is to be a reduction in traffic jam. By preventing buses from constantly starting up and braking in mid-road, buses would be in a position to meet their timings, making everyone’s total time of transport shorter, not just bus commuters.
Safety First: An End to Unfair Competition and Accident-prone Transport
Safety has been a long-time problem in Dhaka’s transport system in public transport. The uncontrolled competition between uncontrolled buses has caused rash driving, aggressive behavior on streets, and a shocking number of accidents. The pink buses, to be controlled more strictly, would be regulated to adhere to new safety standards that would reduce deaths and injuries.
The reduction of unfair competition is one of the key benefits of this action. There is a disorganized fleet of privately owned buses that compete to carry more commuters by speeding to destinations in a shorter time period. This has often been done in unsafe ways such as overloading and speeding. By unifying business in a fleet of pink buses, the government is looking to institute a system in which companies compete on merit to provide quality services without competing unfairly.
Improved Passenger Experience
For commuters, the new system is a welcome relief. In addition to cleaner, more efficient, more secure buses, consistency of the pink buses means that commuters have a better chance of learning to know and use the transport system. The colorfulness of buses, coupled with visible signs, means that one is easily able to tell the bus to take to destinations.
The action is welcomed by many of its residents, many of whom complained of a lack of regulation in transport previously. “The system is a nightmare. The bus never arrives when you think it is going to be there, and there is always a hold-up,” said regular commuter Ayesha Akter. “I’m looking forward to the pink buses because I know it’s going to be more organized and it’s going to be safer.”
Looking to the Future: Setting a New Transport Standard
As Dhaka increases in size and grows, transport is going to be a decisive force in determining the path of the city’s future. The introduction of such pink buses is a crucial step towards a more modern, more efficient, and more reliable system of transport for a million plus commuters using it each day.
The new system, if it is a success, can be replicated in other Bangladeshi cities, to say nothing of cities in other parts of the world. By addressing the problem of operations on one side and safety on the other, Dhaka is moving towards a cleaner, more reliable, and more secure system of transport, one that would transform the lives of its citizenry.
The pink buses are more than a new transport system – they are a symbol of a desperately needed step towards a more ordered, more sustainable mobility in Dhaka’s future. Then arrival of these buses is a symbol of change, to be sure, but also a promising step towards a better tomorrow for all that live in Dhaka.
Source: Bee of Business
