Inter-district buses are following the rules of ‘gate lock’ service introduced to ease traffic congestion in the capital. As a result, the traffic congestion around Mohakhali bus terminal of the capital has been eased to some extent. Bus traffic has changed. Buses are stopping at specific places as per the rules, opposite to boarding of passengers. As a result, order has returned to the traffic system of the bus points located inside the capital.
However, despite the return of order, transport workers are expressing some dissatisfaction with this rule. According to them, they are depriving themselves of the extra income they used to get by transporting passengers between Mohakhali and Khilkhet bus point.
Assistant driver of Alam Asia Paribahan, Delwar said, currently there is a gate lock rule in long-distance vehicles. Now after picking up the passenger in the vehicle from the terminal, we write the number of passengers in the waybill and leave the vehicle with the owner's signature. There is no facility to pick up passengers from the middle of the road. If there are more passengers in the vehicle than the number of passengers in the waybill, there is a penalty. So now when passengers are picked up from Mohakhali, the bus gate is closed. Khilkhet again went to the counter and opened the gate. There is no opportunity to pick up passengers midway.
He said, earlier we could take passengers from Mohakhali bus terminal to Khilkhet for 1500 to 3000 taka. Due to this, the owner would have benefited a little, and we would also have had some additional income. But now there is no chance. We are paid a percentage on each trip. If we earn more money, we get more percentage. If the owner benefits, we benefit. I won't get that chance now.
Not only Delwar, other transport workers working at Mohakhali bus terminal also expressed similar dissatisfaction.
Meanwhile, common people are expressing relief due to the return of order in this new rule, but they are expressing apprehension about how long the rule will remain in effect. According to them, even though new systems are introduced constantly, even if they are effective at first, after a few days everything goes out of order again. As a result, the previous form returns within a few days.
A passenger named Abir Ahmed told Barta24.com that there are many new rules in the country. A strict position appears at the beginning of each rule. But after a few days the rule is lost. No one follows the rules anymore. If these rules were followed properly, order would have returned to the country's roads.
He said, if the rule introduced at Mohakhali bus terminal is properly implemented, order will be restored on this road. There will be no traffic jams.
Another passenger, Mujahidul Islam, said that the rules have been made, but the question is how long will those rules remain. If the law enforcement forces regularly monitor and enforce the rules then the suffering of the common people traveling on this road will be reduced.
Meanwhile, on Monday (May 13) at the capital's Mohakhali bus terminal, it was seen on the ground that the transport workers were signing the waybill from the owner before leaving the vehicle after boarding the bus. After that, after locking the car gate, the bus is leaving the terminal for the destination. After signing the waybill, if any passenger boarded the vehicle, they were disembarked.
Various instructions were also heard through the microphone from the control room located in the terminal. Along with this, if any transport is parked on the main road, they are repeatedly instructed to leave the place through the microphone and if they do not leave the place, the driver and the driver's assistant are being called to the control room.
Local buses plying within the capital were also seen boarding and alighting passengers through the 'bus bay'.
Earlier on Sunday (May 12) around 11:30 a.m., Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) Gulshan Division of Traffic, Abdul Momen, launched the 'Gate lock' system of inter-district buses to ease traffic congestion in the capital. At this time, the DC requested the full cooperation of all the stakeholders related to the transport. He also requested the passengers not to board the bus by shaking hands.
Regarding the gate lock system (DMP), Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Gulshan Division of Traffic, Md. Sayem said, the owners association will count the number of passengers in the inter-district buses that will leave from Mohakhali. Later, the bus will be stopped at Kakali stop to see if the passenger from Mohakhali is there. Then Kurmitola, Khilkhet and last up to Abdullahpur stop will be checked by owners association people. Passengers cannot be picked up from anywhere except these stops.
He said that the traffic department of the police will constantly monitor it. Strict legal action will be taken against any transport in violation of this rule by stopping the bus and picking up passengers.
Earlier on Saturday night, a post on the Facebook page of the Gulshan Division of Traffic informed that the bus will leave from Mohakhali bus stand and will take passengers from Kakali first, then Kurmitola, Khilkhet and finally Abdullahpur to their respective destinations. Strict legal action will be taken against the transporters who violate this rule by stopping buses and picking up passengers.
In the Facebook post, passengers have also been instructed not to board the bus by waving their hands. It is mentioned in the post that all the stakeholders related to the transport have assured full cooperation in this regard.