Lane rules to be reinforced
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police moves to reintroduce the three-lane system tomorrow to ease traffic jam on major roads in the capital.
The DMP had earlier failed to put into effect the system introduced in December last year.
The system will be reinforced to control vehicular movement strictly on city roads, DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque said at a press briefing at the DMP headquarters in the city yesterday.
He said they want to give people a respite from traffic congestion during the Ramadan.
According to the system, one lane is for private cars, microbuses and jeeps; another for minibuses, buses, covered vans and trucks; and the third for CNG-run auto-rickshaws, pickup vans, motorbikes and other vehicles.
The DMP introduced the system on December 8 last year but managed to keep it in force for a short time.
The DMP commissioner said the withdrawal of police officers enforcing the system was the main reason behind the failure.
"Things were running quite well after the lane system was introduced. But as soon as the police enforcing the system were withdrawn, nobody followed it," Shahidul told reporters.
Asked why the law enforcers were withdrawn, he said they were required for routine work as the DMP faced a shortage of manpower.
"We wanted that once we introduce a system, the drivers and passengers will practise it," the DMP commissioner said.
He said 13 teams led by a deputy commissioner of police will be deployed at points from Abdullahpur to Jasim Uddin crossing; the airport intersection to Khilkhet footbridge; Pragati Sarani to Dhaka Gate; Kakoli intersection to Mohakhali Police Box; Hotel Sheraton to Banglamotor and Science Laboratory to Kalabagan to enforce the system.
They will also watch other city points from Hotel Sonargaon to Karwan Bazar; Farm Gate to Tejgaon Police Station; Bijoy Sarani to Mohakhali flyover; Dhanmondi-27 intersection to Shyamoli intersection; Kalyanpur Bus Stand to Technical intersection and Kakrail intersection to Bangladesh Bank.
The teams will include representatives from transport companies and workers.
Police will conduct campaigns to create awareness about traffic rules.
Shahidul said the DMP will make sure that the traffic signals are duly followed. He however admitted that the signal system is interrupted at times due to power cuts.
"We requested the Dhaka City Corporation to install solar panels to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the signal lights," he said.
Referring to the shortage of manpower, the DMP commissioner said the DMP will recruit 650 staff by December.
He said DMP filed 4,76,635 cases for violation of traffic rules and fined more than Tk 20.53 crore in the last eight months.
The Detective Branch of police will watch the market closely during the Ramadan and take actions if any syndicate or hoarder tries to increase the prices of essentials artificially, he said.
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