I will increase the number of vehicles if the number of passengers increases: Road Secretary

Maruf Sarkar, Staff Reporter ::

Roads and Highways Department Secretary Amin Ulla Noori has said that if the number of passengers in the BRTC bus that has been launched on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway increases, the vehicles will be increased.

He said this to the reporters before the start of BRTC buses on the route from Farmgate (adjacent to Khamarbari) to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport through the Dhaka Elevated Expressway non-stop on Monday (September 18) morning.

The road secretary said that the demand of the common people for a long time was to start a bus service. Farmgate is an important place, many passengers travel from here. Farmgate is a hub. In view of that, eight buses of Jasim Uddin BRTC will run from Farmgate every day from 7:30. If the number of passengers increases, we will increase the number of vehicles.

Regarding the movement of motorcycles and CNG, he said, the bridge authorities have decided that motorcycles will not run for the time being. The issue will be considered after it is fully operational. Motorcycles were not allowed at Padma Bridge first. It has been given later, many people are taking pictures, taking selfies on Padma Bridge, we are warning people again and again. Security forces are repeatedly warning. Humans have a passion, and this is the expressway, where the cars will go fast. The bridge authority will decide on the motorcycle.

‘The rent we had before will be here. We will not increase the fare even if we are tolled. The fare from Farmgate to the airport will remain the same.

Regarding the introduction of e-ticketing in buses, the secretary said, we will not introduce e-ticketing. We want to introduce smart card in BRTC. Which will run on BRTC, will run on Metro. Card is ready. It will take some time to execute. BRTC and MRTC will run with the same card.