Is BRTC ready to operate Bangladesh's new electric bus fleet?

Bangladesh is preparing to introduce hundreds of electric buses into its public transport system, but questions remain over whether BRTC is equipped to operate and maintain the specialised fleet.

The state-owned operator has a history of high-end buses falling out of service well before the end of their expected lifespan.

BRTC says it is upgrading workshops and preparing charging and maintenance infrastructure for the transition.

BRTC's previous experience with high-end bus fleets has raised concerns about its readiness to manage electric buses.

In 2002, the corporation procured 50 double-decker Volvo buses at Tk1.26 crore each. The high-comfort buses were reduced to scrap within six to seven years.

In 2011, BRTC received 255 Daewoo buses, more than 100 of which became inoperable within seven years.

The corporation eventually withdrew its air-conditioned service between Dhaka and Narayanganj, while private operators expanded their AC fleets to meet growing demand.

Transport experts have questioned whether BRTC can avoid a similar outcome with electric buses, which require specialised charging infrastructure, maintenance facilities, equipment and trained personnel.

Shamsul Hoque, a civil engineering professor at Buet, said BRTC should not be the main platform for the government's plan to electrify public transport.

"BRTC has previously imported buses, but most of those fleets failed to reach their lifespan. Buses imported from India did not last, and neither did those from South Korea," he said.

Prof Shamsul said the corporation often leases out buses instead of maintaining them effectively, adding that there was no integrated plan covering depots, parking, maintenance and repairs.

"Simply buying buses will not be enough," he said. "There is no integrated plan covering where depots will be located, where buses will be safely parked and how they will be maintained and repaired."

He said the government should conduct a comprehensive process audit of previous BRTC projects before assigning the corporation another major fleet project.

"It needs to examine how the services performed, what went wrong and why the buses failed to last," he said.

BRTC, however, says it has strengthened its financial discipline and governance and is now capable of covering its costs from its own earnings.

According to its latest annual report, the corporation has reopened its integrated workshop in Gazipur with modern equipment and upgraded other workshops to extend vehicle lifespans and facilitate vehicle assembly.

BRTC officials said the corporation currently has around 1,250 buses, about 700 of which are old.

Without new procurement, the operational fleet could shrink to around 550 by 2026, potentially worsening the public transport shortage.

Md Abu Bakar Siddique, deputy general manager (planning) at BRTC, said a feasibility study by Buet is under way to determine the number and locations of charging stations, workshops and other facilities.

"The charging stations, depots and maintenance facilities could be developed anywhere in the country, based on the findings of the feasibility study," he said.

RHD Secretary Mohammed Ziaul Haque said the procurement would also be phased, with the first 100 buses planned in two batches of 50 by December.

"The business model for electric buses will also be different from BRTC's existing models so that this initiative does not meet the fate of the Volvo and articulated bus projects," he said.