Old, unfit vehicles still rule city roads

---

Khalilur Rahman Despite ban on plying of buses, minibuses and trucks in Dhaka city which are over 20-year old, the transport operators continue to defy the restriction with impunity. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) estimates that the number of unauthorized buses now plying Dhaka city roads are nearly 1,500, minibuses - about 2,500 and trucks over 8,000. Early this year owners of old and dilapidated vehicles hastily carried out repairing and repainting of those both in Dhaka and Chittagong cities ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup Cricket as per government directive. A circular issued by the government had warned that if old and worn-out vehicles were found plying after February 10 legal action will be taken against the owners for violating traffic rules. Earlier as per government directive the owners of old vehicles, particularly passenger buses and minibuses, in Dhaka and Chittagong cities resorted to give a coat of painting to their vehicles without going for overhauling of faulty engines, brakes and repairing of passengers' seats. They did not also fulfil other terms and conditions as laid down in government circular. In fact, the owners were found more eager to somehow give a brighter look to their vehicles than to undertake basic repairing and create due facilities for passengers. The government measure aimed at beautification of two major cities, Dhaka and Chittagong, where ICC cricket matches took place. But as soon as the World Cup (WC) cricket event was over, dilapidated vehicles were back to the streets. Plying of these vehicles continues to pose threat to the safety of the road users. Since July last year the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authority began taking action against unregistered and unfit vehicles still plying in the city. The DMP move was directed towards improving traffic management and minimise the number of accidents. The communications ministry also directed the police authority to conduct drives against buses and minibuses which are over 20 years' old. With regard to the traffic management in Dhaka city we find that with the passing of each day the gridlock is getting more severe. The travelling public have the misfortune to waste their time, money and energy to negotiate the traffic jam across Dhaka city. Despite wide media coverage on the gridlock, the concerned authorities have failed to achieve success in resolving the traffic chaos on the streets. We know that the government is trying hard to overcome the crisis and make the city free from gridlock. About a year ago Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain had announced that the government would remove all makeshift shops from footpaths for smooth use of walkways in the metropolis. The drive was due to start from November 1, 2010 and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authority was instructed to free the footpaths from unauthorized occupation. The assurance given by the communications minister to ease traffic jam in the city is indeed encouraging. But we want to suggest humbly that the DMP authority needs no instruction to clear the city's footpaths from unauthorised occupation. The existing DMP rule prohibits the use of footpaths for running open air shops. We suggest that the communications minister should direct the traffic managers not to allow parking of vehicles on the main thoroughfares even during peak hours. This is one of the main reasons behind acute tailback. Let us take the example of a busy road starting from opposite National Press Club up to Topkhana road crossing. We reported earlier in this column that a large number of automobiles and other vehicles are found parked all along this portion of the thoroughfare resulting in acute traffic jam. At times it takes 15 minutes for a CNG-run auto rickshaw to cover this small distance because of heavy traffic jam. If the road remains clear of the parked vehicles, not more than 10 seconds are required for an auto rickshaw to pass through this portion of the road. Though DMP rule does not allow parking of vehicles on the road, this is going on unabated. The problem does not require reporting to the authority as this road from National Press Club to Topkhana crossing runs along opposite Bangladesh Secretariat, the highest seat of administration. Would the DMP authority look into the matter? (E-mail: khalilbdh@gmail.com)