The government has decided to stop movement of motorcycles from one district to another through highways for seven days during Eid-ul-Azha rush.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, in a press release on Sunday, said, "No cycles can ply the highways three days before Eidul-Azha, on the Eid day and three days after the Eid day."
The new directive was taken to check the two-seat riders as passenger service on the national highways and district roads for before and after holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
However, if someone has to travel for an urgent reason, then they have to seek permission from police.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on Sunday.
The meeting discussed the issues of safe traffic movement and road safety ahead of the Eid holidays with its Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri in the chair.
It also said bikes registered in an area also cannot travel other areas without showing logical reasons.
RTB Minister Obaidul Quader joined the meeting virtually.
All stakeholders including officials of Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, Highway Police, District Administration and representatives from road transport owners and workers attended the meeting.
Use of motorcycles as ride sharing during the Eid holidays was the key agenda at the meeting as its massive use was found for the first time during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays causing increased numbers of road accidents and fatalities.
Sources also said the meeting directed all concerned to increase the invigilation so that the bikes registered in an area cannot leave the area.
They said the meeting discussed the regular issues like checking of nasimum Karimun, three-wheelers, plying of vehicles without fitness, stoppages of goods laden vehicles three days before the Eid holidays, phase out of vacation for readymade garment workers etc.
Padma Bridge inauguration and expressway traffic management were also came up at the discussion.
A RHD official said the meeting has directed the authority concern to keep the ferries standby in case of creation of long tailback on the expressway due to heavy pressure of Eid vehicles.
The Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga expressway which has been under toll system only two days before has been directed to increase the number of toll plazas to speed up the process of toll collection.
Similar directive was also come for the toll plazas for Meghna Gumti.
smunima@yahoo.com
