Quader calls for building capacity of BRTA, police

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader has emphasised capacity-building of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Highway Police for safe round trips during Eid.
His observation comes as manpower shortages cause many problems during Eid trips every year.
Despite identifying 155 hotspots of congestion, banning three-wheelers on highways and the operation of fit buses, he expressed doubts about playing due roles during the upcoming peak season by the two offices due to manpower shortages.
Mr Quader said this while addressing a meeting on pre-Eid journey on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr at the BRTA office on Thursday.
All stakeholders including BRTA, BRTC, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, leaders of bus owners and workers attended the meeting.
The meeting listened to potential problems during the upcoming Eid journey from all sides and took categorical decisions to stop the plying of goods vehicles before and after Eid day.
Other challenges include keeping CNG filling stations open day and night for a week, phasing out holidays of garment workers and completing roadworks before a week as preparation for safe road for home-bound people.
Awami League as well as transport worker leader Shahjahan Khan, covered van owners' leader Mashiur Rahman Ranga and safe road movement leader Ilias Kanchan, among others, were present.
Secretaries and heads of the relevant ministries and agencies were also there.
According to Mr Quader, not three-wheelers only, motorcycles, which are being used for highway journey, has become a real problem.
"Our limitation in executing decisions is that BRTA and Highway Police need manpower," said Mr Quader who is also secretary general of the ruling Awami League.
He also regretted that Mr Khan had been unable to renovate all unfit buses for passengers, saying the buses and services do not match with the country's economic development.
"Don't you feel shy looking all these unfit buses," he cited pointing to Mr Khan.
Although the minister allowed motorbikes for Eid trips last year, he once again laid emphasis on a motorcycle policy for regulating the two-wheelers.
Mr Quader also talked about intractable congestion centring on Eid at Hanif Flyover, saying that it takes more time to cross the flyover than reaching the spot from Feni.
In this regard, Mr Khan demanded keeping suspended toll collection from the Hanif flyover to avert the long queue during the Eid period.
According to the meeting, many unfit buses enter into the city before Eid, which need to be checked by the authorities concerned.
However, Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun hoped Eid journey would be better this year if traffic pressure at Tangail and Gazipur points is handled with care.

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