The buses of Nagar Paribahan will be launched on two new routes from October 13, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken at the 24th committee meeting of the Bus Route Rationalization Committee, held at the Buriganga Hall of Nagar Bhaban with Fazle Noor Taposh chairing.
The DSCC mayor revealed the development while talking to reporters after the meeting.
The two new routes will be numbered 22 and 26.
Route 22 will run from Ghatarchar - Washpur - Basila - Mohammadpur Town Hall - Karwan Bazar - Shahbagh - Kakrail Fakirapool - Motijheel - Tikatuli - Syedabad - Jatrabari - Konapara - Demra Staff Quarters.
Route 26 will take in Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur-Japan Garden City-Shyamoli- College Gate-Asad Gate-Kalabagan-Science Lab-New Market - Azimpur - Palashi - Chankhar Pool - through Flyover - Postogola Kadamatoli.
The launch of Route 23, announced earlier, has been pushed back, however, to November 30, said the mayor.
Route 23 runs from Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur-Japan Garden City-Shyamoli- College Gate-Asad Gate-Kalabagan-Science Lab-Shahbagh-Matsya Bhaban-Press Club-Gulistan-Dainik Bangla-Rajarbag-Kamalapur-Dhalpur-Jatrabari-Shanir Akhra-Rayerbagh-Matuile-Signboard-Chittagong Road.
Around 200 new buses will be launched on these three routes. It is taking time as the buses have not been manufactured yet, said Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Atiqul Islam, who was present at the meeting.
The necessary infrastructure development on these routes is almost complete, with just three passenger sheds still to be completed -- two near Shahbagh and one near the Secretariat.
"We will also add new buses to our old Route 21," said Taposh.
Besides, the DSCC will conduct drives on all the routes from September 25 -29, to restore order in the bus service.
Meanwhile, Taposh said over 24 lakh (2.4 million) people had availed of the Nagar Paribahan service till August, generating Tk 3.60 crore (360 million) in revenues.
The ‘Dhaka Nagar Paribahan’ service was launched on a trial basis last December, under the bus route rationalisation project of the two Dhaka city corporations. The project aims to streamline the public transport sector and reduce traffic jams in Dhaka.
