Taskforce to curb traffic jam

UNB, Dhaka :
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said a taskforce has been formed to resolve transport sector problems, including traffic jam and road accidents in Dhaka city.
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the Road Transport Advisory Committee at his ministry, Quader also noted that the 11-member taskforce, headed by the BRTA chairman, will implement the decisions of the Road Transport Advisory Committee in this regard.
The minister said, a coordinated drive will be launched in the city from next month to stop plying of unfit vehicles and remove illegal establishments from the city roads.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister for LGRD Mashiur Rahman Ranga and representatives from bus owners and workers associations will jointly visit different areas each week and take actions to remove unfit vehicles from the city streets and recover the occupied roads, he said.
The owners of repairable unfit vehicles have been directed to repair their vehicles within the next six months, the minister said.
“We’ve already directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to take necessary action for restoring traffic signal discipline,” he said.
The minister said, extortion by police from drivers will be brought to an end by penalising them after investigation into the allegations.
According to the BRTA, there are 88,347 motorised vehicles like bus, truck, covered-van and private car in the country that are plying without having updated fitness certificates.