Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will run mobile court against illegal footpath grabbers from today (Sunday).
As part of its drive to identify and ban unauthorised rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and battery-run rickshaws and free footpaths from grabbers within next two months, DNCC will operate mobile court.
It also sticks to its decision to restrict rickshaws on the roads from Kuril to Sayedabad via Rampura and Khilgaon and Gabtoli to Azimpur via Asad Gate from July 07 to improve the traffic situation without providing any alternative solution to the problems faced by rickshaw-pullers.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and traffic police claimed that various steps have been taken to bring about visible changes in the mass transportation system.
People will not suffer if rickshaw is banned on major city roads in phases, they added.
On the other hand, city rickshaw owners association has requested the authorities to conduct drive against illegal rickshaws first and then restrict licensed rickshaws.
Bangladesh Rickshaw and Van Owners' Federation organised a press briefing after meeting with DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.
The mayor made the announcement on Saturday after a meeting with Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Traffic), DTCA, Dhaka City Rickshaw and Van Owners Association, councillors and other police officers.
"We will show zero tolerance to footpath grabbers who have kept their goods and construction materials on footpaths," he said.
He also called upon the people who have illegally occupied footpaths to remove their belongings immediately as the mobile court drive will start from today (Sunday).
The mayor said rickshaw will not be allowed on major roads as there is a possibility of accidents. Besides, mechanised and non-mechanised vehicles cannot ply together. Rickshaws will be allowed on inner roads only. There are 74 connecting roads in the city where rickshaws can ply.
About illegal human hauler and CNG-run auto-rickshaws, he said no such illegal vehicle will enter the city.
Regarding the number of legal rickshaws in DNCC, the mayor said it is 26,870.
Earlier on July 04, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon said movement of rickshaws on three city roads will be restricted from July 07.
He also said they will take steps to clear footpaths of three roads from illegal occupants and ban unauthorised vehicles during a drive.
Other road is Science Laboratory intersection to Shahbagh intersection.
Answering a question on illegal parking, Mr Atiq said parking problem is an accumulation of problems for a long time. DNCC will construct a vertical parking at Banani within a short time where people will be able to park 45 cars instead of four vehicles.
The mayor also called upon Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and bus owners association to start bus service on those two roads where rickshaw has been banned.
He also suggested that the school authorities start microbus service instead of school vans.
Dhaka city rickshaw owners association general secretary Momin Ali said the city corporation approved about 0.1 million rickshaws in 1986. If the number was limited to licensed rickshaws, there would not have been such traffic problem, he added.
He noted that rickshaw is not only reason for traffic congestion in the city. There are 26 rail-crossings where people get stuck for a long time.
Expressing his grievance, Mr Momin said DNCC is renewing licence. How are they banning rickshaws at the same time?
Mr Momin suggested that the authorities should bring discipline on the roads by building by-lane for licensed rickshaws as it is seen in the cantonment area.
Other speakers said the number of illegal rickshaws is about 1.2 million.
The rickshaw ban will take effect from Sunday following a meeting of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) on June 19 where Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader announced the formation of a special committee led by Mayor Khokon at the 12th board meeting.
Bangladesh Rickshaw and Van Owners' Federation on Saturday urged the authorities concerned to withdraw the ban on rickshaw on three major roads in the city.
The federation leaders said they would organise a mass rally and submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister on July 11 in protest against the ban if their demand is not met by July 10.
They also demanded that the authority impose ban on unauthorised battery-run rickshaws and evict illegal rickshaws from city streets as it is the only reason for traffic congestion in the city.
The call came at a press conference held at Bangladesh Photojournalists Association in the city.
Federation's general secretary RA Zaman read out a written statement at the conference.
Federation's president Ali Ahmed, and vice-president Harun-or-Rashid, among others, were present.
The leaders claimed that a vested quarter was providing token and number plates to illegal rickshaws and unauthorised battery-run rickshaws and earning Tk 100 million a month.
They also requested the authorities concerned to take legal action against them.
More than 0.1 million illegal battery-run rickshaws are now plying the city streets, according to the federation.
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