Quader hopeful about relocating rail tracks from Dhaka
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) in its next meeting will take a “positive decision” on relocating rail tracks from the capital to its outskirts, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told parliament yesterday.
“I will invite the rail minister, officials of Dhaka [north and south] city corporations, Rajuk and other stakeholders to DTCA's next meeting to discuss on this issue. I hope we will take a positive decision in this regard,” Quader said in reply to a call attention notice.
Awami League MP AKM Rahmatullah (Dhaka-11) placed the notice under section 71 of the rules of procedure of parliament.
The treasury bench MP called upon the minister to build necessary parking spaces for vehicles and “stopover car terminals” in a bid to reduce traffic congestion.
“There are no specific parking spots for CNG-run auto-rickshaws, taxis, buses and other modes of transport. The vehicles are haphazardly parked on roads, causing traffic congestions,” he added.
He also suggested relocating rail tracks and building terminals for vehicles.
MINISTER CRITICISES JATRI KALYAN SAMITY
Pointing to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity's recent claim that at least 339 people were killed in 277 road accidents in 13 days (June 11-23) during the Eid journeys this year, Quader criticised the organisation saying that it was “fake and an unregistered entity”.
The minister claimed that people involved with “communal politics” were at the helm of the organisation and vested quarters were patronising it.
Pointing to its statistics, he said the figures are “concocted and baseless” as only 84 people died in road accidents during Eid vacation.
In a scripted answer, Quader also informed the House that there are 34 lakh registered vehicles in the country as of June 30 while number of drivers with licences is 18 lakh.
In reply to a supplementary question, the minister said apart from reckless driving and sorry state of roads, pedestrians are also responsible for road accidents.