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The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) authorities are planning to kick off initial operations with diesel-run buses, shifting from its original plan of deploying only electric buses in the dedicated corridor from Gazipur to Dhaka Airport.
Confirming the matter to The Business Post, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary BM Amin Ullah Nuri said, “Purchasing electric buses is a lengthy process, so we will be procuring several diesel-run buses as well.
“In the coming days, both air-conditioned electric and diesel-run buses will operate in this corridor.”
Providing more details, he said, “No manufacturer will be able to supply us with the required number of electric buses within December this year. There is also some additional work to be done – such as setting up charging stations and other facilities for the e-buses to be functional.
“So, if those facilities are not ready, we will launch the initial operation with diesel buses.”
The secretary added that the Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit Company Ltd had plans to procure buses by December this year, but the process could be extended till March 2023.
“There is also a separate plan of introducing e-buses for other routes as well soon. We have kept a mixed mode of transport for the BRT. If one mode faces any difficulties, the other will keep the route functional,” Amin said.
Meanwhile, Dhaka BRT Company Managing Director Shafiqul Islam said, “The matter is being discussed. We cannot say anything concrete unless a final decision is made.”
When asked whether there is any progress in procuring electric buses for the project, he replied, “The procurement process of buses cannot start before a final decision is made regarding the mode of transportation.”
The matter of introducing conventional buses along with electric ones is yet to be placed before the board of directors of Dhaka Bus Rapid Transport Company Ltd for approval, said Dr Moniruzzaman, one of the directors.
“I have not heard about that yet. If there is a plan, it may be placed before the board in the next meeting,” he said.
The BRT has a plan to operate 130 luxury buses in the dedicated bus corridor from Gazipur to Dhaka Airport, which is a new mode of transportation in Bangladesh.
In September last year, the BRT at a press conference had informed that of the planned 130 air-conditioned buses, 50 will be electric and 80 CNG-run. The estimated purchase cost of CNG-run buses was Tk 200 crore and electric bus prices have not been estimated till date.
According to the plan, each of the buses will have a capacity of carrying 70-80 passengers, and also there will be space for standing commuters. The buses will not take any passenger beyond designated bus stoppages.
Project documents show that the BRT system will cut down travel time between Dhaka and Gazipur to 40 minutes, and is expected to start operating from July next year.
There will be an e-ticketing system, automatic ticket counters, and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for the passenger service. Currently, the road journey on this route takes from one and a half to 3 hours, depending on the traffic situation.
The construction work progress of the BRT is now nearly 80 per cent, BRT sources say.
The project implementation for the 20.5-kilometer bus route was started in 2012 with a target of completion by December 2016. But it missed multiple deadlines and was renewed again and again.
The final project cost stood at Tk 4,268.3 crore, making it one of the most expensive BRTs in the world.
