Home ›› 25 Jun 2022 ›› Front
Bus companies that operate on the country’s southern and southwest-bound routes have started revamping their fleets by investing about Tk 300 crore altogether to increase the number of vehicles and trips ahead of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.
Many of the companies are adding new buses — both normal and luxurious — to their fleets, repairing the old ones or converting the local route buses to long-distance ones for the fresh business window that is set to open later this month with the bridge’s much-awaited inauguration.
Several new bus companies on various routes are also popping up intending to get in on the action.
Overall, hundreds of long-distance buses, including the new ones, worth Tk 300 crore will hit the road once the bridge opens to traffic, industry insiders say.
While more buses will help south-bound people travel easily, the authorities concerned and the bus owners are yet to set the long-distance fares and secure route permits, respectively. Sources, however, say these issues will be addressed and resolved very soon. The bridge twill connect 21 south and south-western districts to the capital city.
The travelling distance from Dhaka to those destinations will be reduced by 100 kilometres or more and travel time will decrease by three hours per trip.
Revamping underway
Mawa Paribahan Private Limited, mostly known as Elish Paribahan, is one of the bus services that mainly operate on the Dhaka-Mawa route with long-distance service on the Dhaka-Barishal route.
Elish Paribahan has been operating on these routes so far with buses without air-conditioning (AC). Recently, it added several luxurious AC coaches to its fleet and started repairing older model ones.
Apart from Elish, Prochesta Paribahan, another local bus service that operates on the Dhaka-Mawa route, has secured the permit to operate on the Dhaka-Kuakata route that will go through the Padma Bridge route.
Like them, Apan Paribahan has gotten the Dhaka-Faridpur route permit and Falguni Paribahan the Dhaka-Khulna one. All these companies, which have been operating so far with non-AC buses, have already added several AC buses to their fleets ahead of the Padma Bridge’s opening.
The non-AC bus operators — both local and long-distance — are now hustling and bustling at the workshops to repair and repaint their vehicles as part of their revamping effort to compete with the other companies and survive.
Mawa Paribahan Private Limited owner Ali Akbar Howlader told The Business Post that the existing bus companies are adding luxurious and better-looking vehicles to attract more passengers. Some local bus operators on both sides of Padma River are trying to convert to direct or long-distance services.
“We have to adapt to compete with the companies that provide long-distance services to Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Khulna, Jashore, and Sylhet routes. That’s our main challenge.
“But we are mentally prepared to provide services on the routes we are permitted to operate on,” he added.
Local operators aiming high
According to owners, around 1,300 buses currently operate on routes between Dhaka and 21 districts, including Mawa Ghat in Munshiganj and Kathalbari’s Majhir Ghat in Shariatpur, on both sides of the Padma River.
There are two types of bus services. Some 800 long-route buses under 29 companies provide direct service between Dhaka and the southern districts via ferries and a little over 500 local buses owned by various companies provide service on both sides of the river.
Howlader, who is also the president of the Mawa Bus Owners Association, said the long-route bus operators will now need to set up ticket booking counters in multiple areas on both sides of the Padma to extend their services.
Industry insiders say a large number of passengers will prefer the Padma Bridge route instead of journeying through Paturia via Gabtoli, as the former will significantly reduce the travel time.
Gabtoli-bound bus owners are also prepared to raise the number of vehicles and trips through the Padma Bridge route.
Shariatpur Road Transport Owners Group is preparing to launch a new service called Shariatpur Paribahan with 50 buses. This service’s fleet will gradually have around 300 new AC and non-AC buses.
Padma Travels and Glory Paribahan will also connect Dhaka with Shariatpur and Faridpur through the Padma Bridge route.
The market price of a non-AC bus is around Tk 80-90 lakh while an AC bus costs 1.5 times more, industry insiders say.
Shariatpur Road Transport Owners Group President Faruqe Ahmed said the transport companies with permits to operate on long-distance routes or provide direct services are now investing more.
Once it’s open, Padma Bridge will allow bus services from Khulna and Barishal to Chattogram and Sylhet, he said. “It will be a great business opportunity for transport owners and commuters will have better travel choices.”
Sarbick Paribahan (Dhaka-Madaripur), Sugandha Paribahan and Sakura Paribahan (Dhaka- Barishal), Tungipara Express (Gopalganj) and many other companies currently provide direct services via ferries. They will hugely benefit from the Padma Bridge route as well.
BM Dablu Bepari, the vice-president of Madaripur Road Transport Owners Association, said many local bus operators have applied for the long-distance route permits anticipating better business.
“But if they do not get the permit, they will have no choice but to continue providing local services,” said Dablu, also the chairman of Bepari Paribahan which operates on Madaripur, Barishal and Patuakhali routes along with many other local routes.
