BRTC School Bus | Mirpur to Azimpur route

With 14 buses in the fleet, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will introduce its school bus service in the capital from next academic session.

The bus will run from Mirpur 12 to Azimpur from January 15, 2011 on a pilot basis, said Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain after a meeting in the ministry here today.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked for introducing BRTC school bus service in the city to reduce traffic congestion as well as facilitate students to avail of comfortable and easy transport on their way to school.

Students and guardians of 31 schools on Mirpur-Azimpur route will get the service from 6 am to 9 am and 11 am to 3 pm to reach the students to their residences. The buses will be available every 10 minutes.

Syed Abul Hossain said the main objective of the bus service is to ensure a safe and low-priced travel facility for the students. The number of buses will gradually be increased on the route, he said.

The highest bus fare from Mirpur to Azimpur has been fixed at Taka 18 and minimum fare will be Taka 5. Students can buy ticket for six months at Taka 1,400.

There will be 33 stops for the buses, of which 21 have already been constructed and 12 others are being built, the minister said. Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has been asked to build new sheds at the bus stops and make them attractive, he said.

The minister said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been requested to take necessary measures to give priority to the school buses to cross the traffic signals quickly and reach their destinations.

BRTC has taken necessary measures to make the students and guardians aware about the bus service.

Syed Abul Hossain said at present 100 BRTC buses are plying in the city and 175 more buses will add to the fleet within next two months. He said 300 buses would also be procured from South Korea.

With the Indian credit facility, the government will purchase 300 double-decker, 100 single-decker and 50 articulated buses which are expected to reach by June next year, the minister said.

Senior officials of the communications and education ministries, BRTC, BRTA, DCC, DMP and education department were present.