The authorities have decided to buy diesel AC (air-conditioned) buses in the first phase of the troubled BRT project as per its French funder's guideline.
The Dhaka BRT Company earlier planned the procurement of electric buses for the project.
The Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) has committed to providing ?102 million in the procurement and operation of the BRT considering its impact on the mobility of people reducing carbon.
As per the guideline, officials said, the company has decided to conduct a feasibility study on the procurement and operation of bus transit with EVs (electric vehicles).
Shafiqul Islam, managing director of the company, said the study will find out the specification of intelligent transport system (ITS) alongside an operational standard for the BRT with EVs first as well as its depot site.
"We're planning to open the BRT corridor shortly, so the first phase we will be using standard diesel AC buses, whose specification is also done by the financier," he told the FE at his office.
The AFD has also approved ?60 million and expected to sign an agreement with the Economic Relations Division next month to procure diesel buses.
The BRT company opened a tender to procure 137 buses on January 15. A pre-bid meeting was held on Wednesday.
According to Mr Islam, 13 companies have purchased bidding documents and they are expecting 20 to participate in the bid that closes on March 02.
In the first phase, 50 buses would be purchased by September, he said.
Another 50 buses will be bought in the next three months after September and the rest 37 in another three months, he added.
The BRT company has already started talking with the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to operate the BRT buses through its 20-kilometre corridor.
Officials said this would continue until an operational guideline comes from the consultant.
Mr Islam said the AFD is working to select a consultant for the feasibility study. The consultant is expected to be appointed next month.
Sources said the BRT project's depot is not equipped enough for EVs and ITS for which another depot site may be required for EV operation.
The study will come up with a recommendation.
