Vehicle operators for rise in goods-loading capacity
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
FE Report
Commercial vehicle operators have demanded increase in the goods loading capacity of existing vehicles which will prompt the government to bear an additional Tk 450 billion in cost for road reconstruction.
The operators raised the demand during an opinion-exchange meeting on the draft policy on 'overload control station' at the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Tuesday.
They claimed that their transportation costs would increase unbelievably if the 3-axle vehicles are not allowed to carry at least 20 tonnes up from the draft-proposed 15.5 tonnes.
The meeting disclosed that majority of 71,505 trucks, covered vans and other carriers use the national highways being overloaded with 10 tonnes more than their capacity forcing the existing roads to get damaged within three years of construction.
The operators informed the meeting that the increase in the axle load has been necessary as the weight of each 3-axle vehicles (normal trucks) covers almost half of the total weight.
Communications minister Syed Abul Hossain attended the meeting as chief guest which was organised by RHD to discuss the recommendations on the draft policy on 'overload control stations' with stakeholders in the absence of which plying of overloaded vehicles cannot be controlled throughout the country.
Concerned parliamentary standing committee chairman Mujibur Rahman, additional secretary of the communications ministry KM Iftekhar Haider and superintending engineer of RHD M Arifur Rahman addressed the function.
Representatives from truck owners' association, workers' federation and those from covered vans association were present.
The officials said although the draft policy has already compromised on the standard limit of 10 tonnes in the country's context, the operators demanded more relaxation.
"Overloading will reduce the lifetime of engines and damage vehicle parts, apart from increasing the possibility of frequent accidents," said an official.
During the meeting, the stakeholders also suggested revision of the road design so that extra loads could not be borne -- which experts said would force the government to invest additional Tk 80 crore to develop the existing roads.
"Not only that, for the extra load the department has to spend Tk 30 million every year for maintenance," the official added.
During the meeting, the operators stressed conducting research on improving road capacity in the country's context and urged the government to lower the import tax of high-axle vehicles for discouraging import of low capacity 3-axle vehicles.
The proposed policy has recommended various steps to check overloading including introducing control station at eight points, checking loading at Chittagong Port like at the other entry points, introducing fine of Tk 1000 for each tonne of excess load and cancelling licenses of the owners after three times of default.
The meeting was informed that out of eight stations, only one at Bangabandhu Bridge has been in operation.
Commercial vehicle operators have demanded increase in the goods loading capacity of existing vehicles which will prompt the government to bear an additional Tk 450 billion in cost for road reconstruction.
The operators raised the demand during an opinion-exchange meeting on the draft policy on 'overload control station' at the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Tuesday.
They claimed that their transportation costs would increase unbelievably if the 3-axle vehicles are not allowed to carry at least 20 tonnes up from the draft-proposed 15.5 tonnes.
The meeting disclosed that majority of 71,505 trucks, covered vans and other carriers use the national highways being overloaded with 10 tonnes more than their capacity forcing the existing roads to get damaged within three years of construction.
The operators informed the meeting that the increase in the axle load has been necessary as the weight of each 3-axle vehicles (normal trucks) covers almost half of the total weight.
Communications minister Syed Abul Hossain attended the meeting as chief guest which was organised by RHD to discuss the recommendations on the draft policy on 'overload control stations' with stakeholders in the absence of which plying of overloaded vehicles cannot be controlled throughout the country.
Concerned parliamentary standing committee chairman Mujibur Rahman, additional secretary of the communications ministry KM Iftekhar Haider and superintending engineer of RHD M Arifur Rahman addressed the function.
Representatives from truck owners' association, workers' federation and those from covered vans association were present.
The officials said although the draft policy has already compromised on the standard limit of 10 tonnes in the country's context, the operators demanded more relaxation.
"Overloading will reduce the lifetime of engines and damage vehicle parts, apart from increasing the possibility of frequent accidents," said an official.
During the meeting, the stakeholders also suggested revision of the road design so that extra loads could not be borne -- which experts said would force the government to invest additional Tk 80 crore to develop the existing roads.
"Not only that, for the extra load the department has to spend Tk 30 million every year for maintenance," the official added.
During the meeting, the operators stressed conducting research on improving road capacity in the country's context and urged the government to lower the import tax of high-axle vehicles for discouraging import of low capacity 3-axle vehicles.
The proposed policy has recommended various steps to check overloading including introducing control station at eight points, checking loading at Chittagong Port like at the other entry points, introducing fine of Tk 1000 for each tonne of excess load and cancelling licenses of the owners after three times of default.
The meeting was informed that out of eight stations, only one at Bangabandhu Bridge has been in operation.