Adviser Fouzul Kabir warns BRTA officials including Chairman of consequences if they fail to improve the traffic situation within one month.
Adviser to Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways ministries Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan made the warning while addressing a seminar titled “Strengthening Discipline in Road Transport Sector, Reducing Traffic Jam in Dhaka city and Controlling Air Pollution” at the Biddut Bhaban in capital on Thursday.
After the meeting, he said in a press briefing: “Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been given one month time to improve the situation.”
Then he made a special mention, he said: “The authority must ensure the driving license for all those who drive vehicles.”
The adviser also said that the authority must ensure that there are no unfit vehicles in the road, adding: “They can take help from the private sector in need while giving fitness certificate.”
He asked them to identify the areas where traffic jam are common than other areas. He said: “Traffic jam is common in rail-crossings and flyovers’ ramps.”
He also mentioned: “The traffic police have been instructed to take actions in this regard within two days, so that the traffic jam situation can be visibly improved within the next week.”
Then the adviser said: “If car causes traffic jam due to illegal parking on the road, that car should be impounded instead of being fined.”
He also said that there is a proposal to start school buses. I will write a letter to the education ministry in this regard and will have meetings.
On the other hand, traffic jam occurs when buses stop and board passengers from odd places. We had a talk with transport owners too, they assured to start a service similar to the Dhaka Chaka service in Gulshan.
Road transport and highways department secretary Md Ehsanul Haque said: “Company-based bus operation will start on a trial basis on nine routes under bus route rationalization from February 25.”
Later, Advisor Fawzul Kabir said: “Buses ageing 20 year or older must be removed from Dhaka by May.”
The authority informed the bus owners and assured them of Bank loans if they abides by the rule and remove the busses from the road.
Translated by Afsar Munna
