Quader pledges short-term steps to check traffic jam
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday urged the officials and employees of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to work for the country's development instead of giving lectures.
Referring to the city's severe traffic congestions, he said the government would take short-term steps on priority basis to ease traffic congestion.
"I urge RHD officials to talk less and work more for the country's development," Quader said while exchanging views with stakeholders in the transport sector at the RHD conference room in the city.
He said the countrymen dreamt of many things in the past but no dream came true. "We should not talk much and rather show some visible developments before the countrymen in the transport sector."
The minister also said the city roads would be freed from hawkers in phases adding that no step would be taken that might create public anger.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Secretary in Charge of the communications ministry MAN Siddique, Chairman of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board Dr Salehuddin, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Ayubur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Major (retd) MM Iqbal and representatives of transport owners' association spoke on the occasion.
Shajahan said the government wants to make visible development in the transport sector. Steps would be taken to set up a stopover terminal beside the city's railway station to
reduce traffic jam significantly.
He suggested engaging community police side by side with police personnel to check traffic jam.
Speaking on the occasion, the stakeholders of the transport sector held excessive plying of rickshaws on the city streets, influx of private cars and hawkers on waysides responsible for the nagging traffic gridlock.
Later, briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, MAN Siddique said they have a plan to sit with the stakeholders to address traffic jam. "We will go for enforcement of existing laws to ease traffic jam after consultation with the stakeholders one after another."
He stressed the need for increasing the city's parking facilities and one-way roads and the campaign to raise the use of foot over bridges for reducing the traffic jam.
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