Stern actions against BRTA if no improvement within one month: Adviser Fouzul

Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has warned of strict actions against Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) if they do not make improvements while providing driving licenses and fitness certificates within one month.

The adviser announced the warning at a coordination meeting titled "Strengthening discipline in the road transport sector, mitigating traffic problem of Dhaka city and controlling air pollution" held in the capital today (19 December).

"BRTA has been given one month's time. Stern actions will be taken if they do not make improvements within this period. BRTA's system to inspect fitness of vehicles and issuing driving licenses is inadequate. They have been told to use different garages to test fitness and provide licenses through others," the adviser said.

During the meeting, Adviser Fouzul added traffic police officials will identify the hotspots of traffic congestion in Dhaka city during the next two days, which are weekly holidays.

"Traffic police will take preparations in these two days and take steps from next week. They will take away vehicles using tow trucks if anyone commits illegal parking," the adviser added.

Terming the suggestion to use school buses for schoolchildren as a good one, Adviser Fouzul also said the government will send letters to schools through the education ministry in this regard.

"Currently, one car carries one student only. We will sit with school authorities to launch a safe school bus system," the adviser said.

Adviser Fouzul further said, "Our current transport system is trip based. As a result, buses park here and there and block roads. Bus owners have promised they will take alternative steps. They have said they will operate like Dhaka Chaka system, under which buses will park at designated places and passengers will commute on them after collecting tickets."

"We will take another measure, which is to launch a green cluster where no private buses will operate. This cluster will include nine routes where there will be no uneven competition," Adviser Fouzul further said.

At the meeting, the adviser stated all the buses which are running for 20 years or more will be lifted from the streets within next May and financial assistance will be provided if any bus owner asks for it.

"We are arranging for a special passenger service license for bus operators in Dhaka city. We will give this license to bus operators after providing them proper trainings," Adviser Fouzul said.