BRTC's electric bus rollout delayed beyond January deadline

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will not begin operations of its electric bus fleet in January as originally planned, with ongoing tender modifications pushing the project launch further into the future. The delay stems from revisions being made to procurement procedures that were intended to ready the vehicles for deployment across Dhaka's congested streets.

The project has faced multiple challenges since its inception, with technical specifications, procurement rules, and logistical planning requiring adjustment before buses can be rolled out to passengers. Officials have not provided a revised timeline for when the electric buses will finally join the capital's transport network.

The initiative represents a significant step toward modernizing Dhaka's public transportation system and addressing severe air quality concerns in the city. Electric buses are expected to reduce emissions and operating costs compared to conventional diesel-powered vehicles currently dominating BRTC's fleet.

Transport sector analysts have emphasized the importance of timely implementation for achieving environmental targets and improving commuter experience. The repeated postponements have raised questions about the BRTC's capacity to execute large-scale infrastructure modernization projects within specified timeframes.