BRTA earned Tk 401 crore in FY 2006-07, which is around a hundred crore taka more than the year's target. Half of the total income comes from Dhaka. In the previous fiscal year (2005-06), the earning was Tk 335 crore.

Main sources of BRTA's earning are fees collected for car registration, driving licence, fitness certificate, route permit for bus, hologram stickers and the annual tax paid by the vehicle owners.

BRTA officials attributed the remarkable increase in income to the recently introduced one-stop service, which increased the pace of work and encouraged the vehicle owners to seek services from BRTA.

The one-stop service is being provided from BRTA's Mirpur 13 office premises.

Since May 15 this year, 10 counters open there are delivering driving licences, fitness certificates, vehicle registration and other necessary services. Each desk is assigned to do a particular job.

Just a few months ago the situation in BRTA office was completely different. Middlemen used to occupy the entrance offering their 'services' to whoever arrives there. Without their 'intervention' nothing was possible in time -- whether someone seeks a driving licence or a fitness certificate or registration renewal.

The scenario has now totally changed. The middlemen have disappeared after a few raids by the joint forces who picked up 30 of them in May from the BRTA office premise. Delivery is also faster than ever.

"We did not increase the fee since 2002. But our income this year is all-time high. There are various reasons behind the success," said Humayun Rashid Khalifa, director (engineering), BRTA

"Introduction of one-stop service increased the pace of our work. Before we started the service people did not know what to do. Waste of time was a common experience," he added.

"Now it is simple because they have to visit just one desk for their required service. Because of one-stop service it is now possible to deliver a particular service within 2 hours," he added.

Earlier, an applicant needed at least three months to get a driving licence. Now it takes about one month. All the exams are taken in one day.

Khalifa said absence of 'dalals' (middleman) is another factor for the success. "Because of the middlemen we did not receive a considerable amount of revenue each year. Now that they are gone, it is adding with our income."

Vehicle owners however said that they are simply not taking any chances to confront the law enforcers in the changed political situation.

Khalifa agreed. "It appears that owners are keeping the papers updated to avoid any incident with the law enforcers. Presence of vehicle owners for fitness certificate or driving licence is also highly encouraging. Earlier they used to depend on the middlemen," he added.

During the last one month around 15,000 vehicles received fitness certificates while more than 1 lakh driving licences were issued in last one year.

According to BRTA, currently there are around 10 lakh registered motor vehicles in the country including about 4 lakh or around 50 percent in Dhaka.