Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) would introduce another 83 double buses in the city to its fleet of 600 before the coming Eid festival next month. According to BRTC, in the first week of August, these buses will be added to its fleet and will operate on long routes to ensure hassle-free smooth Eid journeys for holidaymakers.
The buses are being imported from India under the initiative of procuring single-decker and double-decker air-conditioned and non-ac bused decided on February 2016. Earlier a total of 517 buses have already reached Bangladesh in different phases. The authority concerned said that the latest addition expected to take place next week will have a positive impact during Eid vacation. Each bus has a total of 120 seats while 40 additional passengers can travel with its existing capacity. Each bus is equal to five minibusses.
BRTC source said, that a total of 300 double-decker buses were purchased from the Indian Ashok Leyland each at Tk 72 lakh while a total of 100 air conditioned single-decker buses were purchased each at Tk 69 lakh. In a separate deal another 100 air-conditioned single-decker intercity buses were purchased, each at Tk 70 lakh, and 100 non-ac single-decker buses, each at Tk 42 lakh from Tata manufacturers. The economic lifespan of these buses is estimated for 12 years.
Under the project, a total of 100 ac single decker, 100 non-ac single decker, 100 single decker intercity, and 217 double-decker buses have already reached the country. BRTC chairman Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan told Bangladesh on Sunday, “We have already received 517 buses from India. Of the total 600, 83 double-decker buses will come to our country in the first week of August. Of the total 83 buses, 34 buses are waiting to enter the country at Benapole border.”
“After completing necessary formalities, on the first week these buses will be added to the BRTC fleet. This will make our transportation system efficient. Holidaymakers will experience smooth Eid journey,” he added. According to BRTC, at present, the organization has 588 old buses that are risky for the environment. Due to the shortage of vehicles, the state own organization is unable to meet public demand. As a result, these new buses are being imported. These buses will replace the expired buses dumped at various dumping stations of BRTC.
