The environment ministry on Sunday said it has taken initiative to remove buses and trucks older than 20 and 25 years respectively from roads and make emission testing mandatory in issuing fitness certificates for vehicles.
The ministry has sent a letter to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to this effect requesting the removal of buses and minibuses older than 20 years, and trucks and covered vans older than 25 years from the roads.
The ministry has called upon the BRTA to make emission testing mandatory when issuing fitness certificates for old diesel-powered buses and trucks. BRTA has been requested to take steps to remove vehicles that have exceeded their economic life and to ensure mandatory emission testing for old diesel vehicles during their fitness checks.
In line with the decisions made in the earlier meetings of the National Committee on Air Pollution Control, BRTA will take appropriate measures to remove unfit vehicles and those that have exceeded their economic lifespan from the roads.
Emission testing will also be mandatory for old diesel-powered buses and trucks during fitness checks in Dhaka, according to a statement of the ministry.
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