Why should 'fit' old vehicles go off the streets?
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Shahiduzzaman Khan
The Dhaka City Coordinating Committee on Traffic issued the other day a note to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) directing latter to immediately withdraw vehicles beyond 20 years' old from the city streets, instead of 15 years' old. The move was taken to ease nagging traffic congestion in the city.
The drive to 'seize' such vehicles was earlier suspended following conflicting views about the age limit of the vehicles in question. The home ministry was reported to have proposed 15 years as the maximum period and the communication ministry, 20 years, for the purpose. As the 'conflict' between the two ministries on the issue is now settled, the magistrates have begun rounding up the old vehicles through mobile courts again from early this week. This drive is on, as part of the effort to give some respite to the city dwellers from unprecedented traffic snarl-up.
Yet the way the order about not allowing vehicles beyond 15 years' old to ply on the city roads, was issued demands a thorough enquiry. Reports say, as per decision of the parliamentary standing committee, the communication secretary, on the last day of his service, issued a circular about disallowing all kinds of vehicles being over 15 year-old to move on the city streets in violation of the Secretariat rules. The BRTA, getting the order from the Secretariat, issued a notice through print media about the ban. Very soon, it led to widespread protests from vehicle owners and created confusion among the ministries concerned.
The general practice at the BRTA is that the inspectors at the first instance refuse to issue fitness certificates to old and worn-out cars. Yet when 'Dalals' (intermediaries) approach them, the situation takes a reverse turn. It does not take a long time to get the required 'fitness' of these cars. A vicious circle is allegedly controlling the BRTA offices in the city. Successive governments tried to get rid of such intermediaries from the BRTA premises, but failed. They surface again when drives to eliminate them come to an end.
How does the government expect to totally disallow the old cars beyond 20 years to move on the city streets when no rules appear to be in order? First of all, traffic signals in the metropolis are not working. Traffic is now being controlled manually by the traffic police. The old cars mostly escape sight of the traffic police and sergeants in the melee. Yet when a sergeant stops an old car and examines its paper, the driver can easily enter into an 'unholy' deal with him by bribing. Traffic police allegedly receive 'token' money from the running of old and outmoded vehicles. Such incidents are happening in broad day light. Eye witnesses accounts, published in the media, often give a clear picture of such day-light extortions by the members of the law enforcing agencies.
Nevertheless, the move to 'drive away' the old cars deserves appreciation as the government is making a serious effort to reduce city's chaotic traffic congestion. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources claimed that they had already seized 2,600 motorised vehicles and over 4,000 rickshaws during the special drive that began on August 9. There are 70,000 old and 'dilapidated' cars that are plying on the city streets.
The question is: Can a single crackdown spanning over the end of Ramadan haul up such a large number of old cars? Reports say, most of the worn-out vehicles have gone into hiding since the crackdown had started. Many such old buses and cars are avoiding day-time running for fear of mobile courts and began sundown trips across the city. In the process, the key objective of the mission is being jeopardised.
According to BRTA, 0.5 million vehicles are running on the city streets. Out of them, 20 to 25 per cent vehicles are unfit for plying. With a very limited road capacity, it is really absurd to make safe room for plying of these large number of vehicles on the streets of the capital city. Besides, 0.5 million rickshaws, plying on the city streets, are adding to the traffic woes. The whole traffic system is on the verge of collapse. In many advanced countries in Europe and America, the authorities examine road capacity first, before issuing any licence to new cars. If roads are found incapable of taking new load, the authorities there refuse to register new cars. Such practice is diligently followed in Singapore as well. But in Bangladesh, there is no such system. Anybody can get licence for his old or reconditioned cars. Indeed, no logic works here.
It's true that age-old cars have been running on the city streets for long. Vehicles dating back to 30 or 40 years can be seen on the streets in Bangladesh and elsewhere around the globe. In Europe and America, old cars ply on the streets with a bit of pride and luxury. These is no complaint against these old cars as because they are competent enough to pass any 'stress' test. Henceforth, old cars need to be judged through their fitness and outer look. If condition of the engine, body and other components are satisfactory, why will these cars be declared abandoned? The authorities should seize only those vehicles which are unable to ply on the streets and are in pitiable condition.
All said and done, the government needs to take stern actions against all unfit and age-old vehicles and send them to the demolition yards through repeated drives as long as they are seen on the roads. Such vehicles must not be allowed to come again remodelled and repainted with false papers obtained through the intermediaries of the concerned departments. Existing city roads need to be made wider and if necessary roadside structures, shops etc., near the roundabouts, should be brought down.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com
The Dhaka City Coordinating Committee on Traffic issued the other day a note to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) directing latter to immediately withdraw vehicles beyond 20 years' old from the city streets, instead of 15 years' old. The move was taken to ease nagging traffic congestion in the city.
The drive to 'seize' such vehicles was earlier suspended following conflicting views about the age limit of the vehicles in question. The home ministry was reported to have proposed 15 years as the maximum period and the communication ministry, 20 years, for the purpose. As the 'conflict' between the two ministries on the issue is now settled, the magistrates have begun rounding up the old vehicles through mobile courts again from early this week. This drive is on, as part of the effort to give some respite to the city dwellers from unprecedented traffic snarl-up.
Yet the way the order about not allowing vehicles beyond 15 years' old to ply on the city roads, was issued demands a thorough enquiry. Reports say, as per decision of the parliamentary standing committee, the communication secretary, on the last day of his service, issued a circular about disallowing all kinds of vehicles being over 15 year-old to move on the city streets in violation of the Secretariat rules. The BRTA, getting the order from the Secretariat, issued a notice through print media about the ban. Very soon, it led to widespread protests from vehicle owners and created confusion among the ministries concerned.
The general practice at the BRTA is that the inspectors at the first instance refuse to issue fitness certificates to old and worn-out cars. Yet when 'Dalals' (intermediaries) approach them, the situation takes a reverse turn. It does not take a long time to get the required 'fitness' of these cars. A vicious circle is allegedly controlling the BRTA offices in the city. Successive governments tried to get rid of such intermediaries from the BRTA premises, but failed. They surface again when drives to eliminate them come to an end.
How does the government expect to totally disallow the old cars beyond 20 years to move on the city streets when no rules appear to be in order? First of all, traffic signals in the metropolis are not working. Traffic is now being controlled manually by the traffic police. The old cars mostly escape sight of the traffic police and sergeants in the melee. Yet when a sergeant stops an old car and examines its paper, the driver can easily enter into an 'unholy' deal with him by bribing. Traffic police allegedly receive 'token' money from the running of old and outmoded vehicles. Such incidents are happening in broad day light. Eye witnesses accounts, published in the media, often give a clear picture of such day-light extortions by the members of the law enforcing agencies.
Nevertheless, the move to 'drive away' the old cars deserves appreciation as the government is making a serious effort to reduce city's chaotic traffic congestion. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources claimed that they had already seized 2,600 motorised vehicles and over 4,000 rickshaws during the special drive that began on August 9. There are 70,000 old and 'dilapidated' cars that are plying on the city streets.
The question is: Can a single crackdown spanning over the end of Ramadan haul up such a large number of old cars? Reports say, most of the worn-out vehicles have gone into hiding since the crackdown had started. Many such old buses and cars are avoiding day-time running for fear of mobile courts and began sundown trips across the city. In the process, the key objective of the mission is being jeopardised.
According to BRTA, 0.5 million vehicles are running on the city streets. Out of them, 20 to 25 per cent vehicles are unfit for plying. With a very limited road capacity, it is really absurd to make safe room for plying of these large number of vehicles on the streets of the capital city. Besides, 0.5 million rickshaws, plying on the city streets, are adding to the traffic woes. The whole traffic system is on the verge of collapse. In many advanced countries in Europe and America, the authorities examine road capacity first, before issuing any licence to new cars. If roads are found incapable of taking new load, the authorities there refuse to register new cars. Such practice is diligently followed in Singapore as well. But in Bangladesh, there is no such system. Anybody can get licence for his old or reconditioned cars. Indeed, no logic works here.
It's true that age-old cars have been running on the city streets for long. Vehicles dating back to 30 or 40 years can be seen on the streets in Bangladesh and elsewhere around the globe. In Europe and America, old cars ply on the streets with a bit of pride and luxury. These is no complaint against these old cars as because they are competent enough to pass any 'stress' test. Henceforth, old cars need to be judged through their fitness and outer look. If condition of the engine, body and other components are satisfactory, why will these cars be declared abandoned? The authorities should seize only those vehicles which are unable to ply on the streets and are in pitiable condition.
All said and done, the government needs to take stern actions against all unfit and age-old vehicles and send them to the demolition yards through repeated drives as long as they are seen on the roads. Such vehicles must not be allowed to come again remodelled and repainted with false papers obtained through the intermediaries of the concerned departments. Existing city roads need to be made wider and if necessary roadside structures, shops etc., near the roundabouts, should be brought down.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com