Kamruzzaman Bablu :
A BRTC (Bangladesh Road and Transport Corporation) bus on average could not make the net profit of even Tk 200 a day during the last two fiscal years as the operating and maintenance costs were unusually high, according to statistics provided by the BRTC.
According to the BRTC statistics, the net profit of BRTC buses was Tk 60.57 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year and Tk 60.85 million in 2014-15 fiscal, though more than 1,000 buses were in operation during the period.
BRTC officials blamed the recent pay hike of BRTC staff, high repair costs for old buses, additional fuel costs due to traffic congestion and a good number of unproductive staff amid manpower shortage for the high operating costs.
In 2015-16 fiscal, a total of 1539 buses were in the BRTC fleet. Of buses, 1018 were in operation, which earned Tk 2.2693 billion. But Tk 2.2036 billion was spent as the operating and maintenance costs of the buses. So, each of 1018 buses on average made a profit of Tk 176 a day.
Admitting the high operating and maintenance costs of the BRTC bus services, BRTC chairman Md Mizanur Rahman said the lion share of the income is spent on fuel of the buses, their repairing and providing salaries of BRTC staff.
“Since most of our buses are old, huge money is spent on repair works for keeping the vehicles operative. Besides, traffic congestion, particularly in the capital, increases the fuel spending,” he told the New Nation.
Apart from this, the management cost of the BRTC bus service is high as the salaries of its staff have been doubled. More worrying is that over 300 out of some 3,000 BRTC staff, including drivers, virtually cannot contribute because of their advance age, he added.
“We’ve to increase income of the BRTC buses and trucks by enhancing our management efficiency,” the BRTC chairman said.
The scenario was almost the same in the 2014-15 fiscal when 1052 buses out of 1532 were in operation, which earned Tk 2.01 billion. But the Tk 1.9415 billion was spent. So, the total net profit of the buses is Tk 6.85 crore and a bus on average earned Tk 179 a day.
The same scenario was depicted in the BRTC truck service in the last two fiscal years, when a total of 146 trucks were in the BRTC fleet. Of these, 106 trucks and 98 trucks were in operation in 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years respectively.
In 2015-16 fiscal, the 98 trucks earned Tk 190.83 million, but the costs were Tk 180.40 million. Each truck on average earned a net profit Tk 400 a day.
In 2014-15 fiscal, the 106 trucks earned Tk 160.88 million, but the costs were Tk 160.60 million. A truck made a net profit of Tk 74 on average a day.
Manager of Mirpur-12 BRTC Bus Depot Md Masud Talukder also said 90 per cent of his depot’s income is spent on maintenance costs.
There are a total of 171 buses in the depot and 95 of the buses are fit to ply routes. The remaining buses either went beyond economic repairing (BER) age or needs massive overhaul, he said.
“Some 85-90 buses from the depot are in regular service and earn over Tk 0.3 million a day. But 90 per cent of the income is spent on meeting fuel and maintenance cost,” he said.
According to the BRTC statistics, some 520 BRTC buses are now out of order. Of these, 158 buses are in condition of BER as the repair is not profitable.
A BRTC (Bangladesh Road and Transport Corporation) bus on average could not make the net profit of even Tk 200 a day during the last two fiscal years as the operating and maintenance costs were unusually high, according to statistics provided by the BRTC.
According to the BRTC statistics, the net profit of BRTC buses was Tk 60.57 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year and Tk 60.85 million in 2014-15 fiscal, though more than 1,000 buses were in operation during the period.
BRTC officials blamed the recent pay hike of BRTC staff, high repair costs for old buses, additional fuel costs due to traffic congestion and a good number of unproductive staff amid manpower shortage for the high operating costs.
In 2015-16 fiscal, a total of 1539 buses were in the BRTC fleet. Of buses, 1018 were in operation, which earned Tk 2.2693 billion. But Tk 2.2036 billion was spent as the operating and maintenance costs of the buses. So, each of 1018 buses on average made a profit of Tk 176 a day.
Admitting the high operating and maintenance costs of the BRTC bus services, BRTC chairman Md Mizanur Rahman said the lion share of the income is spent on fuel of the buses, their repairing and providing salaries of BRTC staff.
“Since most of our buses are old, huge money is spent on repair works for keeping the vehicles operative. Besides, traffic congestion, particularly in the capital, increases the fuel spending,” he told the New Nation.
Apart from this, the management cost of the BRTC bus service is high as the salaries of its staff have been doubled. More worrying is that over 300 out of some 3,000 BRTC staff, including drivers, virtually cannot contribute because of their advance age, he added.
“We’ve to increase income of the BRTC buses and trucks by enhancing our management efficiency,” the BRTC chairman said.
The scenario was almost the same in the 2014-15 fiscal when 1052 buses out of 1532 were in operation, which earned Tk 2.01 billion. But the Tk 1.9415 billion was spent. So, the total net profit of the buses is Tk 6.85 crore and a bus on average earned Tk 179 a day.
The same scenario was depicted in the BRTC truck service in the last two fiscal years, when a total of 146 trucks were in the BRTC fleet. Of these, 106 trucks and 98 trucks were in operation in 2014-15 and 2015-16 fiscal years respectively.
In 2015-16 fiscal, the 98 trucks earned Tk 190.83 million, but the costs were Tk 180.40 million. Each truck on average earned a net profit Tk 400 a day.
In 2014-15 fiscal, the 106 trucks earned Tk 160.88 million, but the costs were Tk 160.60 million. A truck made a net profit of Tk 74 on average a day.
Manager of Mirpur-12 BRTC Bus Depot Md Masud Talukder also said 90 per cent of his depot’s income is spent on maintenance costs.
There are a total of 171 buses in the depot and 95 of the buses are fit to ply routes. The remaining buses either went beyond economic repairing (BER) age or needs massive overhaul, he said.
“Some 85-90 buses from the depot are in regular service and earn over Tk 0.3 million a day. But 90 per cent of the income is spent on meeting fuel and maintenance cost,” he said.
According to the BRTC statistics, some 520 BRTC buses are now out of order. Of these, 158 buses are in condition of BER as the repair is not profitable.
