The state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) bought 50 'articulated' buses in 2013. It was said that these buses bought under the Indian loan will add a new dimension to Dhaka's public transport. But in just seven years, 43 buses fell into disrepair, which may remind many of the experience of the world-famous Volvo buses bought from Sweden two and a half decades ago.
Neglect of state resources is only one aspect of negligence, irregularity and corruption in government institutions. BRTC is still struggling due to the irregularities and corruption of the past few years. It is disrupting its main goal – passenger service.
Volvo Shadows in Articulated
Known to the overseas public as bendy, stretch, slinky, etc., the 'articulated' bus structure is almost twice the length of conventional buses.
These buses have gained popularity as they can carry a relatively large number of passengers within the legal length. Due to the difficulty of running on relatively narrow roads, however, this bus made across two parts has been removed from many cities around the world.
Out of the 50 articulated buses purchased in 2013, BRTC re-introduced 27 in 2022. The rest of the buses are still lying in the depot. A total of 1,558 buses have been added to the company's fleet in the last 15 years. Of these, 1,244 are operational on paper. And in four projects, the purchase of these buses has cost about 1300 crores. During this time many buses were destroyed. Some have been sold at kg rate as 'Bhangari' due to being left for a long time. Due to lack of proper maintenance or untimely repair of vehicles, BRTC's income has been affected in addition to disruption of passenger services. The company is plagued with various problems including difficulties in paying debts and irregular salaries of employees.
Sources related to BRTC say that now initiatives have been taken to operate 8 more articulated buses. The rubber connection between the two parts of these buses is made in Germany.
They are not usually available in the local market as demand is extremely limited. The new connection cost of each bus is more than 33 lakh rupees. However, the old ones are being repaired with indigenous technology for only 40 thousand taka.
In 2001-02, BRTC launched 50 modern double-decker buses of Sweden's world-renowned Volvo company on the roads of Dhaka. The modern buses were appreciated for their comfortable ride. However, due to lease management errors and lack of maintenance, the buses became unusable within just five years.
Allegations of negligence in maintenance and repair of state-owned company cars in general, apart from expensive or special company cars, are old. According to the sources of the organization, in recent years, 139 buses were lying idle in various depots including Chittagong, Narayanganj, Motijheel, Kalyanpur, Mirpur, Joarsahara, Gazipur. Although many parts of these buses are repairable, the outer parts are damaged due to falls. As a result, government resources were wasted.
Suffering irregularities for three fiscal years
According to the report of the Directorate of Transport Audit, the managers and officials of various bus depots of BRTC, including Tezgaon in the capital, embezzled Tk 4 crore 87 lakh in the three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This financial loss is due to non-deposit of revenue received from drivers, conductors and lessees from outside persons or organizations in the bank. The audit report says that only in those three financial years, the total amount of corruption in BRTC is more than 24 crore 62 lakh rupees. BRTC is also facing problems in collection of dues due to lawsuits.
According to the report, there are allegations of irregularities in the allocation of 37 shops of Kalyanpur Bus Depot. Business type change fee not accrued. Fulbaria CBS-2 Market has complications in collecting rent arrears. Allegations have been made about the role of officials of estate department of BRTC head office behind these failures. BRTC has failed to collect revenue of more than 6 crore rupees due to lease of Motijheel, Kalyanpur, Joarsahara, Barisal, Khulna, Bogra bus depot and head office. On international routes, Shyamoli Paribahan, Royal Coach and NR Travels have arrears of royalty fee of Rs.24 lakh 61 thousand in three years, which has not been paid due to Corona.
Sources of the organization say that the former chairman Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan and Md. BRTC still has to bear the responsibility of these corruptions during Ehsan Elahi's time. During the time of these two who served in succession just before the current chairman, BRTC's debt to various institutions stood at Tk 101 crore. 92 crore has been disbursed out of it in the last four years.
Housing to pay debts
Many common bus passengers of the capital complain that the vehicles of this government agency are not seen on many routes on the way to Dhaka. There are precedents for sudden route changes. Sources of BRTC say that due to the pressure of debt repayment, buses are being given to various government institutions with less emphasis on passenger services. Now their 550 cars transport passengers on the way to the capital. But these cars do not earn much. 172 vehicles have been leased to various government institutions.
Chairman of BRTC. Tajul Islam confirmed the fact that 172 bus fares were given during a conversation with Ajkar newspaper last Monday. As the reason, he said, money is needed to repay the amount of debt incurred in the past few years. Good income is earned by renting accommodation in government institutions. 12 crore salary was paid last month. About two and a half crores of profit has been made.
Tajul Islam also said that there was a huge amount due to BRTC due to the irregularities of the former officials. Since 2021 it has been brought down to 9 crore till now. Efforts are being made to recover old dues through departmental litigation and pressure, but recovery in full is difficult. Commenting that the complexity and irregularities of the estate department have reached the extreme, he said that efforts are on to fix it.
The lease will no longer be granted
19 BRTC buses have been leased to private companies in addition to renting to government institutions. Chairman Tajul Islam said that after taking charge in 2021, he saw that BRTC buses were handed over to private companies in violation of rules. This lease process will be phased out gradually. No renewal after expiry. These lease owners have been hurting BRTC for years by not paying revenue. Buses connected in FY 2018-19 have also become vandalized due to negligence.
Expert advice
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) professor of civil engineering department communication and transportation expert Dr. Hadiuzzaman told Ajker Patrika that the management committee of BRTC has played a major role in solving the crisis in the last three financial years. But however profitable the BRTC may be, their main function is to serve the public. They should be given importance there. Profit from leasing should not be the main objective.
Professor Hadiuzzaman also said that no other bus company in the country has the structural capacity of BRTC. It should be used. BRTC has a tendency to increase the number of routes. But many routes do not have enough buses. You have to pay attention to this.
