DHAKA, May 9, 2023 (BSS) - Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh today said a total of 100 new electric buses will be included to the Dhaka Nagar Paribahan fleet this year.

"Within this year, we will add 100 electric buses to Dhaka Nagar Paribahan through Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). Through this, we can
take Dhaka forward as an environment-friendly city," he said.

Taposh, also the Bus Route Rationalisation Committee President, disclosed this while exchanging views with journalists after the 27th meeting of Bus
Route Rationalisation Committee at Nagar Bhaban's Buriganga Hall here.

While responding to a query of journalists regarding the various irregularities in the 'Trans Silva Paribahan' on route number 21, which was
launched experimentally at that time, he said: "I have taken a strict decision in this regard."

"Trans Silva failed to provide services on route 21. So, this entire route will now be operated by BRTC. BRTC has expressed interest in taking it up.
For this, I am canceling all permission of Trans Silva," he added.

"We've decided to seize those approved buses which had in Dhaka Nagar Paribahan. So, routes 21 and 26 will be operated by BRTC from now," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said: "Our plan was to make nine clusters including six urban clusters
and three sub-urban clusters."

"Firstly, we are working with green cluster where I had a master plan with a total of eight routes from 21 to 28," he added.

"According to this plan, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and today 27 and 28 are included in eight routes," he said.

DNCC mayor said that it was decided in today's meeting that tender will be called for opening routes 27 and 28.

"One of the benefits of the meeting is that we are making progress in bringing the total 'Green Cluster' under one company," he continued.

While replying to another query regarding the ban of plying buses without fitness, Atiqul said the concerned authority is very mach sincere in this
matter and that is why the number of those vehicles is decreasing.

"The DNCC, DSCC, DMP and BRTA will jointly conduct combing operations on 21, 22 and 26 routes on May 21 to June 1, June 11 to June 15 and July 16 to July
20 respectively," he said, adding that no old bus, without route permission and fitness, will run in the city and no old bus will be included in Nagar
Paribahan.

The DNCC mayor said Nagar Paribahan will be run through new buses only.