CNG autos banned on highways

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Wednesday the government decided to ban movement of CNG-run auto-rickshaws on highways, aiming to reduce road accidents, reports UNB.

"We've noticed free movement of CNG-run auto-rickshaws on the highways. These auto-rickshaws are causing accidents. This will be stopped," Quader told a press briefing at his ministry.

About the recent road accidents on the western side of the Bangabandhu Bridge before and after the recent Eid, he said the accidents had occurred not because of the road condition but because of reckless driving.

Quader said the government had taken a master plan to upgrade the country's highways to four-lane ones gradually with a view to creating a nationwide hassle-free road communication system. He said a 22-km elevated express way would be constructed from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to the Ashulia Baipal point to reduce traffic jam. The work would begin next year, he added.

Quader, also the presidium member of the ruling party, said cattle markets would not be allowed to be set up beside the national and local highways and on city corporation roads to avoid traffic jams ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

"Although it was decided before Eid that any vehicle without fitness would not be allowed to ply roads, some vehicles hit the roads without fitness and created traffic jams.

The officials concerned will explain the matter in the next evaluation meeting," he added.

Obaidul said those engineers who performed their duties properly during the recent Eid to make the holidaymakers' journeys hassle-free would be rewarded, while action would be taken against those who failed.