The forty articulated buses introduced by the government in the capital are yet to have registration numbers even after four months of operation.
These buses were seen having AFR and On-test plates instead of a registration numbers.
According to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983, no vehicles are permitted to carry passengers or goods without having registration numbers.
‘This is not lawful, even though they are government-run vehicles,’ Bangladesh Road Transport Authority director Mohammad Saiful Hoque told New Age.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation officials, however, said they were in a ‘rush’ for starting the operation of the new buses, which did not allow them to complete the registration process.
‘We have paid the fees and submitted additional papers to the BRTA for the registration process and hope to get the registration papers for all the buses,’ said BRTC director Nikhil Ranjan Roy.
Meanwhile, Saiful Hoque claims BRTA has got only the registration fees regarding the buses, but did not get other papers.
According to the BRTC officials articulated buses have been carrying passengers on three different routes in the city — Shimultoli (Gazipur) to Motijheel, Balughat to Motijheel and Gabtoli to Abdullahpur via Kalshi.
Passengers have also alleged that the new bus service charges more than other BRTC bus service.
‘For commuting between Farmgate and Khilkhet, the service charges Tk 15, whereas other BRTC bus services charge Tk 10,’ Mahbub Khan, a private company employee, told New Age.
Though, Nikhil Ranjan Roy rejected the allegation.
The bus service was launched in February and inaugurated by communications minister Obaidul Quader.
BRTC now has 50 articulated buses bought at a cost of around Tk 44 crore and made by Ashok Leyland.
An articulated bus comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint. It requires a 10.45 metre turning radius compared to 10.05 metre needed for a normal bus and because of its slow pace an articulated bus is able to stop more frequently to pick or drop passengers.
-With New Age input
