Reza Mahmud :
A good number of passenger sheds were constructed by the both city corporations at a huge cost have become useless. The bus drivers as well as passengers are ignoring these passenger sheds and bus stoppages labelling those as unusable.
Experts blamed the authorities for constructing these without proper plan. Last year, 50 passenger sheds were built in the Dhaka South City Corporation and the Dhaka North City Corporation areas. DSCC constructed 30 sheds funded by the government amounting to Tk eight crore. On the other hand, Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (Case), a World Bank project, built 10 in DSCC and 10 in DNCC areas.
The sheds built at Gulistan, Tikatuli, Wari, Matslya Bhaban, Banglamotor, Rajuk Avenue, Mohakhali, Saatrasta, Malibagh, Syedabad and elsewhere rather have begun vagabonds and street beggars’ shelter.
Some bus drivers said, the bus stoppages are not at proper points. That is why we cannot use those.
Similarly, the passengers said, most bus stoppages are useless and the passenger sheds are unnecessary.
“the buses stop at several yards distance from the passenger sheds as well from the bus stops. Then how can we use the sheds? Why did not the authority think it before constructing such installations?”
Said commuter Abul Hossain, waiting for a bus at Tejgaon Saatrasta in a sunny day at a distance. DSCC officials said that they had built these sheds as per the recommendations of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. They asked us to build 140 sheds and signboards marking bus stands in different areas in the capital city.
As per the recommendations of DMP Traffic, DSCC built these sheds and bus stoppages, said DSCC officials.
As the sheds are found useless, the drug addicts stole parts of the shed. The faded paints and broken glasses mark most sheds. Steel sheets of the sheds stolen and body locks vanished from the Rajuk Avenue’, Banglamotor and many other places’ passenger sheds.
Vagabonds have occupied those centers. They are using the sheds as stores, keeping their sacks there.
Rajib Khadem, Executive Engineer of DSCC Traffic Engineering Department, told The New Nation that they would repair those sheds soon.
He said, the organisations like Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, police, DTCA, and bus owners associations had responsibility to compel the bus drivers to use the stipulated bus stoppages.
“The City Corporations have not sufficient manpower to protect the sheds and to force the bus drivers to use those designated bus stands,” Rajib Khadem said.
When contacted, DTCA Executive Director Khandakar Rakibur Rahman told The New Nation, “The Traffic Department of the City Corporation can answer well as to why the sheds are not in use. The bus owners are also liable in this regard.”
He said also that the DTCA has not got yet full control over the vehicle movements on the city.
Khandaker Enayetullah, General Secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association told The New Nation, “The sheds are constructed in a far distance from the points where the bus drivers used to stop their vehicles.”
He however, said that they are now working with DCCs, DTCA, BRTA and BRTC to resolve the problem.
On the other hand, though the sheds and bus stoppages indicating signboards are not functional, the City Corporations are trying to start new phase of construction of more such sheds.
DTCA suggested building of more 74 passengers sheds, 53 of them in DSCC and 21 in DNCC areas.
They suggested it after conducting a joint survey with DSCC and DNCC, Bus Owners Association, BRTA and BRTC.
Experts also expressed disappointment at the plan of constructing such more sheds.
When contacted, Urban Planner Adil Mohammad Khan told The New Nation, “The sheds have been proved as an irresponsible piece of work. It should be counted as an economic offense and liable persons have to be brought under accountability.”
He said the government should be aware before allotting more money in this regard.
A good number of passenger sheds were constructed by the both city corporations at a huge cost have become useless. The bus drivers as well as passengers are ignoring these passenger sheds and bus stoppages labelling those as unusable.
Experts blamed the authorities for constructing these without proper plan. Last year, 50 passenger sheds were built in the Dhaka South City Corporation and the Dhaka North City Corporation areas. DSCC constructed 30 sheds funded by the government amounting to Tk eight crore. On the other hand, Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (Case), a World Bank project, built 10 in DSCC and 10 in DNCC areas.
The sheds built at Gulistan, Tikatuli, Wari, Matslya Bhaban, Banglamotor, Rajuk Avenue, Mohakhali, Saatrasta, Malibagh, Syedabad and elsewhere rather have begun vagabonds and street beggars’ shelter.
Some bus drivers said, the bus stoppages are not at proper points. That is why we cannot use those.
Similarly, the passengers said, most bus stoppages are useless and the passenger sheds are unnecessary.
“the buses stop at several yards distance from the passenger sheds as well from the bus stops. Then how can we use the sheds? Why did not the authority think it before constructing such installations?”
Said commuter Abul Hossain, waiting for a bus at Tejgaon Saatrasta in a sunny day at a distance. DSCC officials said that they had built these sheds as per the recommendations of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. They asked us to build 140 sheds and signboards marking bus stands in different areas in the capital city.
As per the recommendations of DMP Traffic, DSCC built these sheds and bus stoppages, said DSCC officials.
As the sheds are found useless, the drug addicts stole parts of the shed. The faded paints and broken glasses mark most sheds. Steel sheets of the sheds stolen and body locks vanished from the Rajuk Avenue’, Banglamotor and many other places’ passenger sheds.
Vagabonds have occupied those centers. They are using the sheds as stores, keeping their sacks there.
Rajib Khadem, Executive Engineer of DSCC Traffic Engineering Department, told The New Nation that they would repair those sheds soon.
He said, the organisations like Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, police, DTCA, and bus owners associations had responsibility to compel the bus drivers to use the stipulated bus stoppages.
“The City Corporations have not sufficient manpower to protect the sheds and to force the bus drivers to use those designated bus stands,” Rajib Khadem said.
When contacted, DTCA Executive Director Khandakar Rakibur Rahman told The New Nation, “The Traffic Department of the City Corporation can answer well as to why the sheds are not in use. The bus owners are also liable in this regard.”
He said also that the DTCA has not got yet full control over the vehicle movements on the city.
Khandaker Enayetullah, General Secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association told The New Nation, “The sheds are constructed in a far distance from the points where the bus drivers used to stop their vehicles.”
He however, said that they are now working with DCCs, DTCA, BRTA and BRTC to resolve the problem.
On the other hand, though the sheds and bus stoppages indicating signboards are not functional, the City Corporations are trying to start new phase of construction of more such sheds.
DTCA suggested building of more 74 passengers sheds, 53 of them in DSCC and 21 in DNCC areas.
They suggested it after conducting a joint survey with DSCC and DNCC, Bus Owners Association, BRTA and BRTC.
Experts also expressed disappointment at the plan of constructing such more sheds.
When contacted, Urban Planner Adil Mohammad Khan told The New Nation, “The sheds have been proved as an irresponsible piece of work. It should be counted as an economic offense and liable persons have to be brought under accountability.”
He said the government should be aware before allotting more money in this regard.
