Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is introducing the school bus system in January next initially at four English medium schools to reduce the use of personal cars as these cars have become an additional burden to the traffic in the capital.

These four schools are Chittagong Grammar School, Scholastica, Sir John Wilson School and Bangladesh International Tutorial. All big schools in the capital will be brought under the system gradually. This bus service will be launched under private management.

Talking to Bangladesh Pratidin, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “Preparations are underway for the launch of the experimental school bus service. Teachers, students, and parents are all involved in this service. Discussions are going on with all stakeholders. Hope we can start school bus service for the students soon.”

“If all the students use the school bus together, they can make a good relationship and enjoy the journey besides reducing the traffic congestion, he added.

About 14,000 private cars with school-college university students travel to and from the campus at least four times a day. This resulted in a severe traffic jam in front of the capital's renowned schools.

Earlier, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) launched 14 school buses from Azimpur to Mirpur but that bus service is not on the road now.

Several educational institutions including Scholastica, Aga Khan School, Koda, Soda, and Yuda have already started their bus services in the capital. Some universities have also introduced bus services to transport their students.

But in most educational institutions students especially school-level students come and go in private cars. A school bus can carry at least 30 students if the school bus service is implemented.

Md Selim Reza, chief executive officer of DNCC said, “The feasibility study of this pilot project is underway with students from four English medium schools. The route, number of buses, and security are many things that have to be taken care of. It has also planned to employ women as bus helpers.”

“Hopefully in January we will be able to start the school bus service in the capital,” he added.

Contacted, Dr Saleh Uddin, former additional executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) and transport expert said, “It is a good initiative to introduce school buses in the capital to ease traffic congestion. But before getting off the bus, you have to plan in detail with all the information.”

“The location of these buses, manpower, fuel, etc. will have to be discussed. If school buses carrying students are parked on the streets, it will not bring any positive result,” Saleh opined.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 10, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan and edited by Golam Rosul.