Dhaka, May 18 -- The special committee responsible for approving bus route permits in Dhaka has continued allowing what transport experts describe as "unscientific" routes for both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses over the past one and a half years, despite almost no improvement in passenger services.

Industry insiders say the initiative has failed mainly because hundreds of thousands of unauthorised vehicles still operate on the capital's already overcrowded streets.

During the period, authorities also failed to remove buses that exceeded their 20-year economic lifespan, as well as trucks and covered vans older than 25 years.

At the same time, operators showed little interest in launching services on newly approved routes...