Three bus terminals in capital run beyond capacity:Daily Sun

Buses remain parked haphazardly on the busy road near Gabtoli bus terminal in the capital as the terminal cannot accommodate the growing number of buses plying inter-district routes. Haphazard parking often causes traffic congestion in the area. The photo was taken on a hartal day. file Photo Three bus terminals of the capital—Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mohakhali—are operating more than seven times of
their capacity, leaving the road transportation system of the city in a fragile condition. Due to space shortage in the terminals, buses from inter-districts remain parked haphazardly in the main thoroughfares of the city, causing huge traffic congestions. Besides, indiscriminately placed bus counters and unauthorised ‘mini terminals’ for long-distance bus services in several areas of the city are creating inconvenience to the city dwellers. No new bus terminal has been established in last tow decades though the volume of both population and vehicles has increased three times during this period. The planned initiatives to relocate the bus terminals from the busy points of the city to ease traffic congestion also could not be implemented yet. Sources in the bus terminals said buses from 20 districts are linked with Gabtoli bus terminal. The capacity of the terminal is only 300, but around 2000 buses remained parked at the busy terminal. With the same capacity, buses from greater Mymensingh and other 15 districts are linked with the Mohakhali bus terminal, which is also running beyond its capacity. The condition of capital’s biggest bus terminal at Sayedabad is worse. Some 30 districts including port city Chittagong are linked with this bus terminal. The capacity of Sayedabad bus terminal is more than 500, but it handles nearly 2,500 buses, sources said. During visits to the bus terminals in the capital, this correspondent found that buses were parked haphazardly on the roadside and adjacent areas due to lack of parking space. Commuters from all parts of the country have to suffer when the buses get stuck for hours in the entry point of bus terminal. Urban planners said though the government is working to make the city more smooth and amiable, this sector still remains out of development attention. The authorities are building flyover one after another to reduce traffic congestion in the capital, but do not concentrating on making more bus terminal in the city, they added. Additional Chief Engineer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Syed Kudratullah told daily-sun that they are aware about the matter, but don’t have any plan right now to extend or shifting the Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals. “Work of metro rail, elevated expressway and flyover is in progress to make a more efficient transportation system. Keeping consistency with these developments works, the bus terminals will be restructured, he said, “If we take any plan right now regarding the terminals it would hamper the ongoing infrastructural development projects.” City corporation sources said all the previous government had planned for re-structure and shifting the bus terminals in a bid to reduce traffic congestions in the city. The Gabtoli bus terminal was planned to extend its area while Sayedabad bus terminal was planned to be shifted to Kanchpur. The plans are yet to see the light of the day.