8th Five-Year Plan: Road safety to get top priority
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday proposed to incorporate road safety issues in the upcoming 8th five-year plan, as a priority matter.
"Because, road accident has turned out to be a major concern and ensuring safe road is a major challenge," Quader said while taking part in a sector-wise discussion on the 8th five-year plan through video conference.
He said road sector has witnessed huge development as around 450 kilometres roads have been expanded into four lanes in last 12 years and expansion of another 450km roads into four lanes is going on.
"But, we could not bring discipline on the road fully," Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said, adding, "I think this [road safety] can be incorporated in this plan as a priority matter."
The minister said his ministry is not solely responsible for ensuring road safety, rather different other ministries and agencies have to play roles in this regard. "The issue of coordination among all stakeholders to ensure road safety can be incorporated in the plan specifically," he added.
He said plan has been taken to convert 550km roads under the Road Transport and Highway Division into four lanes in next five years.
"Usually, we are highly ambitious while preparing a plan but very slow in implementation. However there are exceptions. So, I will call for taking plan which is implementable," he said.
"We have to consider our capacity to implement a plan. We have to set priority while selecting project," he said.
The minister emphasised on economic return of any project and serving the expectation of the government through it.
He also recommended for using more technologies in the road transport sector for achieving targets and including environment issues in the plan
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