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Special train services on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar routes, along with 200 buses of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), are starting today to handle the surge in passenger demand during the Durga Puja holidays.
Railways, Road Transport and Bridges, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has directed the authorities to operate three pairs of special trains on the two routes.
The minister also ordered measures to prevent overcharging and ticket black marketing, mobile court operations to curb irregularities, and the deployment of adequate law enforcement personnel at bridge toll plazas.
He said the agencies responsible for road, rail and waterway transport must work in coordination to ensure that the festive celebrations are not disrupted by untoward incidents, excessive fares or passenger harassment.
Meanwhile, BRTC has introduced the “Durga Puja Special Bus Service”, which will operate from today until Saturday.
The state-owned transport agency said the service was launched under the direction of the Road Transport and Highways Division to ensure safe and hassle-free travel during the festival.
Advance tickets for the service have gone on sale at 22 BRTC bus depots across the country.
BRTC has allocated 200 buses, including air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned vehicles, as well as single-decker and double-decker buses. The corporation said it could increase the number of buses depending on passenger demand.
Most of the buses will depart from various depots in Dhaka and Gazipur.
The destinations include Rangpur, Bogura, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Pabna, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Panchagarh, Bhurungamari, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Kushtia, Barishal, Khulna, Tangail, Sirajganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Jamalpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Chattogram.
Some buses will also operate on routes connecting different districts.
Passengers seeking information about the special bus service can contact BRTC’s central control room at its headquarters by telephone at 0241053042 or mobile numbers 01324293974 and 01718183589.
