Passengers elated
Will cost Tk35-40 for the service
Tolls not included
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has launched its bus services on the Uttara-Farmgate route via the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
BRTC Chairman Md Tajul Islam inaugurated the service on Monday at 11am. Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori and others were present at the time.
Passengers were elated on the first day of public transport on the expressway. Mostafizur Rahman, a resident of Farmgate Manipurpara area, said: “I just bought an up-down ticket to experience the elevated expressway. I am very excited.”
Another passenger named Shahin Alam said: “It feels good to save a lot of time on the journey. Earlier, it used to take about two hours to go to Uttara. Now I will reach in 10 minutes.”
Initially, a total of eight buses will carry passengers from three depots. Commuters can board the buses from both ends of the expressway.
Passengers will be able to cross the Dhaka Elevated Expressway for just Tk35.
For southbound travel, BRTC buses will pick up passengers from Jasimuddin Road, Airport Railway Station, and Kaola in Uttara, with a stop at Farmgate. Passengers, who are heading toward Uttara can board buses at the Khejur Bagan Golchattar, Khamar Bari, and Bijoy Sarani.
Passengers will be charged Tk35 for a 15km journey from Khejur Bagan to the airport road and Tk40 for a 17km ride up to Jasimuddin Road.
The fare is calculated at Tk2.45 per kilometre, and the e-ticketing system would ensure passengers are not overcharged.
Currently, tolls are not included in the fare. In the future, the authorities will adjust fares to account for government-fixed tolls.
The toll for buses on the expressway is Tk 160.
On September 2, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Dhaka Elevated Expressway from Kawla in the airport area to Farmgate.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.