Unauthorized Dhaka Buses Moved to Purbachal Depot Amid Crackdown
Authorities in Dhaka and Purbachal have launched an initiative to relocate unauthorized and dilapidated buses to a temporary depot. Officials stress that unfit vehicles will face strict action under new lifespan regulations.
On September 1, authorities in Dhaka and Purbachal initiated a major transport management measure aimed at clearing unauthorized and dilapidated buses from the capital. Under this new plan, buses that are currently parked across various areas of Dhaka are being removed and transferred to a newly established temporary depot located in Sector 3 of Purbachal.
The newly designated Purbachal depot has been allocated 10 acres of land to accommodate the displaced vehicles. According to official operational plans, the facility will initially have the capacity to hold approximately 150 buses during the primary phase. Once the construction work is fully completed, the depot's overall capacity is projected to expand significantly to accommodate up to 600 buses.
Alongside the relocation efforts, strict measures are being enforced against unfit vehicles operating on the roads. Anisur Rahman, the additional police commissioner and head of the traffic division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), made the police department's stance clear regarding vehicle standards. He stated that buses possessing valid fitness paperwork will still be prohibited from operating on the streets if they are found to be genuinely unsuitable and physically unfit for movement in reality.
To establish clearer operational standards, specific economic lifespans have been formally designated for motor vehicles. The economic lifespan for buses has been set at 20 years, while the lifespan for other categories of vehicles has been determined to be 25 years. Vehicles that exceed these established limits are being systematically targeted by the authorities.
As part of the ongoing crackdown involving the DMP and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), approximately 40 out-of-date and expired vehicles have already been officially sent over to the BRTA. Furthermore, out of these targeted vehicles, 18 units have already been completely scrapped under the formal provisions of the existing scrap policy.
Addressing transport operators and stakeholders regarding these strict measures and compliance, Anisur Rahman issued a direct call to action. Urging everyone to honor their previous agreements, he remarked, 'You have given your word to the government, made a promise, and made a commitment to us; let us all come together and keep that commitment.'
