Business Desk :
Greater Dhaka is home to over 15 million people with its population expected to double by 2030. This is causing severe development pressures on the city, most prominently evident in the worsening traffic congestion, being fuelled by a number of factors including increasing mobility demand; the absence of a reliable and quality public transport system; and the increase in the use of private vehicles.
The negative impacts are felt by all, in lost work and family time; loss of productivity; a degraded environment and quality of life; and increased fuel consumption, noise and air pollution. Time lost and the increased cost of freight cripple the city’s economic performance, which in turn will affect the nation’s economy.
These development challenges require innovative and sustainable solutions, as just increasing road capacity and building flyovers cannot solve the problems. Therefore, the authorities have resolved to urgently improve the Public Transport system under the planning guidance of the Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan (STP) which plans for a network of three Bus Rapid Transit Lines (BRT) and three Metro Rail Lines (MRT).
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) is undertaking the reform of the bus network which includes the development of a 22km BRT Line-3 between Airport in the North and Jhilmil in the south with the support of the World Bank. At the Airport, BRT Line-3 will connect to the northern BRT Line operating to Gazipur, currently being developed by Roads & Highways Department with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB) to create a total of over 40km of North-South BRT line.
The main features of the BRT are central control of the system, so operations are managed in ‘real -time’ to ensure services are punctual and reliable and that any operational problem is dealt with immediately.
The BRT system will operate platoons of high occupancy buses at 2 minute frequency on a physically segregated median busway, synchronised to the intersection signals to provide ‘green-light priority’. BRT stations will be located at the centre of the road median and will be accessed through pedestrian underpasses using escalators with facilities to cater for elderly and disabled. Station platforms provide a safe and comfortable waiting area for the orderly boarding and alighting of buses with level-boarding at the bus entry for ease of access.
Electronic ‘smart-card’ ticketing at station entry will provide simple and easy fare payment with a range of discounts applied for special needs groups and high volume travelers.
Passenger information will include visual information, public announcements as well as ‘next station’ announcements on the bus.
Importantly, BRT will be integrated into the other transport modes, especially feeder buses and rickshaws (and also the MRT rail lines) which are essential to provide a complete and connected network of passenger service to homes and suburbs.
The BRT system will engage with existing bus operators for the removal of the existing bus fleets along the corridor and include these operators as contracted operators of the new fleet to provide services to the BRT system. For bus operators, this represents a new business opportunity.
The effect of the BRT (and removal of the existing bus operations) will see both a better quality of public transport along the corridor and more orderly traffic operation, free of the disruptions of stop-starting buses in mixed traffic lanes.
The operations of the BRT will be managed by a government-owned Dhaka BRT Company, operating on a commercial basis to provide high levels of service. This Company will manage the public transportation business (responsible for customer service and profitability) and ensure quality bus operations by managing the performance-based contracts under which the private sector operates the buses.
Bus terminals and depots will be provided at Mohakhali (being the redeveloped intercity bus terminal) and Keraniganj near Jhilmil Project.
BRT Line-3 development will have positive impact on neighborhoods, with the renovation of sidewalks, street lights and traffic signals along the corridor. The Gulistan inner city area will be redeveloped as a pedestrian-friendly environment around the BRT facilities.
The BRT system will introduce a new culture of passenger transport for Dhaka and improve the social and economic conditions of the city. It will provide commuters a safe, reliable, convenient and affordable service and a good choice over private car travel. It will help to create a cleaner, safer and more efficient city with a better quality of life.
Reference: CASE Project, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
