By Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo

DHAKA, Dec 10, 2024 (BSS) –The city commuters have been experiencing untold sufferings for long due to plying of unfit vehicles especially passenger buses on the city streets coupled with poor traffic management and syndicates active in transport sector. 

Most uncomfortable, unmaintained and age old vehicles especially passenger buses with faded colour, broken windowpanes, looking glasses, indicator lights etc are plying on city streets since long causing enormous suffering to city commuters.   

However, releasing of black smoke by the unfit vehicles and uncontrolled honking due to lack of awareness of drivers have been posing serious hazard on public health and environment as well. Their long standing negative impact is lessening the average life span of city people, experts opined.      

Besides, traffic congestion in the capital city has emerged as a serious threat to the city’s smooth traffic management. City’s traffic gridlock has been wasting around 8.2 million working hours of commuters daily, according to an official of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passenger welfare platform, here. 

He said commuters’ long standing demand of lessening traffic gridlock and ensuring comfortable public transport in the capital city remained unfulfilled for long. 

Talking to BSS recently, a number of bus passengers alleged that although a huge number of private bus services are operating in the capital, but no bus operator is yet to improve their services. They are charging additional fare compared to BRTA fixed rate, but they are not providing standard services, he said. 

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan meanwhile, underlined the need for removing unfit and age old vehicles from city streets aimed at improving air quality to protect public health.

The government has been working to reduce different types of pollution, which are causing public inconvenience, she said.

However, General Secretary of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity Mohammad Mozammel Haque Chowdhury alleged that transport owners are involved in malpractice by running their age old and unfit public transports blaming extortion in the sector.

A total of 3000-3500 outdated and unfit buses are plying on Dhaka’s streets and passengers have been experiencing rain, cold wind due to damaged of roofs and broken glasses, he said.

Chowdhury blamed the unfit vehicles for increasing city’s traffic jam and creating chaos on the streets.

Bus Route Rationalization Committee (BRCC) recently took an initiative to bring all city buses under a single umbrella aimed at easing traffic congestion and providing comfortable services to passengers.

Asked about the unfit vehicles plying on city streets, Mohammad Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, Director of BRTA, said that BRTA has been conducting regular mobile courts against unfit and age old buses.

Meanwhile, Adviser of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan stated the government will soon implement an effective plan to withdraw old vehicles from the streets.

Professor Hadiuzzaman from BUET said the typical 'economic life' of a bus is around 10 to 15 years. Once a vehicle reaches this lifespan, it can no longer burn fuel efficiently resulting in unburned fuel that releases harmful chemicals, he added.