The government is still reluctant to launch company-based bus service in the city although, transport experts think, it could solve traffic-related problems including reckless driving and overtaking.
They said Dhaka Bus Network Company or BusNet would help stop unhealthy competition among bus drivers and operators and reckless driving -- major causes for creating chaotic situation in the city's traffic system.
It is high time for the government to force all bus operators to sit in meeting and come to an agreement on forming the company, experts said, adding that the authorities concerned earlier missed an opportunity in this regard.
The city has been in chaotic situation in last eight days following student protests against the killing of two college students in a road accident recently while they were waiting for a bus on the airport road. They later placed nine-point demand to ensure road safety.
Earlier, college student Rajib Hossain died after losing his one arm in between two buses. Student of North South University Payel also died when bus drivers and helpers threw him into a river after he was injured seriously in road accident.
Sources said the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges is yet to hold any meeting on the current situation except the issue of implementing the directives of the prime minister which was held on Sunday. The meeting discussed the issue of constructing rest houses for drivers on highways.
During the ongoing movement, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader did not say a word in this regard. He also refrained from making any comment on the issue when the FE correspondent asked him during the signing ceremony of subways at a city hotel on Thursday.
The transport sector in the country is highly politicised backed by different political parties. Besides, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), the executing agency of the move, is also found less powered to get them back to the negotiating table.
While talking to the FE on the issue of BusNet on Saturday and Sunday, bus owners alleged that the authority is not sincere in forming the company.
President of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association Mohammad Abul Kalam said, "We fully support the initiative. But we are not supposed to take necessary action."
Enayet Khandakar, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, alleged that DTCA never invited them to any meeting for discussion on forming the bus company.
"This is a good initiative and we are very much interested in it. But it must come from the government side," he told the FE over phone.
But official sources alleged that even after inviting the association leaders, none of them attended the meetings organised by DTCA several times since February.
They said DTCA has already sent the draft memorandum and article of association (AoA) to form the BusNet, seeking comments from bus owners and workers' associations. But no comment has yet been received till filing this report.
"We believe BusNet is the only and one solution to ensure safe driving and bring discipline in the transport sector as it will help introduce bus service on a single route by a single company," said an official who was involved with the process of forming BusNet.
BusNet was one of the recommendations proposed in the Strategic Transport Plan for operating bus services in the city through bus route franchise (BRF).
He said the company-based bus system will ensure facilities including proper training for bus drivers and other operators.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) first initiated the move on recommendation of the prime minister under the former mayor's leadership, but effort was halted following the death of Mayor Annisul Haque. Later, DTCA resumed the initiative with the plan to launch two pilot projects on two routes.
DTCA had plans to form BusNet aiming to bring thousands of buses, running on different routes, under six bus companies.
smunima@yahoo.com