'I will be on the road if crisis arises'

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said there should not be traffic congestion this year during the Eid rush as the state of roads and highways is better than previous year's.

He urged everyone to follow traffic rules and asked all stakeholders to perform their respective duties so that holidaymakers can reach home safely.

“I will be on the road if crisis arises,” the minister said at a preparatory meeting on upcoming Eid at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) headquarters in Dhaka.

The minister said this issue takes his sleep away whenever Eid comes.

“Last year I thought that I would not have to worry about [road condition] this year…But it is very difficult to bring discipline on the road unless there is a change in the people's mentality,” he said.

Quader insisted that there would be no congestion on the highways during the Eid period if people comply with traffic rules. Speed of vehicles will slow down but they won't be stuck if there is heavy rain, he said.

The minister said situation of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway won't improve fully until the opening of three narrow bridges in December. There are some problems on Dhaka-Tangail Highway as well, he said, adding that he has already directed to stop all repair works.

Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, once again asked leaders among transport owners and workers to take steps so that no unfit vehicles can operate on the road during Eid rush.

“Allowing unfit vehicles to ply the streets means we are encouraging killings [in the road accidents],” said Quader. He said although the number of accidents has reduced, the number of deaths in road accidents has increased.

The minister reprimanded BRTA for its inaction in bringing the workshops, where unfit vehicles are refurbished ahead the Eid, to book. Asked whether his ministry will take any action against BRTA officials for their inaction, Quader did not give any direct answer. “Change has been taking place in the section and more changes will come,” he said.

He also directed the authorities concerned to take necessary steps so that no battery-run auto-rickshaw can ply the highway and no driver can talk on mobile phone while driving.

VIGILANCE TEAMS FORMED

The minister said BRTA has formed three vigilance teams for three major bus terminals of Dhaka to ensure safe and hassle-free journey for holidaymakers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The vigilance teams will operate at Gabtoli, Saidabad, and Mohakhali bus terminals to ensure safety measures for passengers, monitor vehicles to stop them from charging excess fare from passengers, carrying extra passengers and overloading goods, he said.

 The teams will be led by three additional deputy police commissioners (traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and will have representatives from union of transport owners and workers, BRTA and city corporations.

Another five-member team led by Additional Police Commissioner (traffic) Mir Rezaul Alam will monitor and supervise the three vigilance teams, he added.

Nur Mohammad Mazumder, director (enforcement) of BRTA, said the vigilance teams will start their work from June 11 and continue till June 15 or 16.

The teams will work in cooperation with BRTA mobile courts and take action against any irregularities, he said.