City Desk :
The government has taken a move to introduce a tougher new policy to regulate the rampant and risky movement of unregistered battery-operated three-wheelers, commonly known as electric auto-rickshaws or easy bikes across the country, including the capital.
The reckless movement of these vehicles has created chaos on city roads and highways’, leading to worsening traffic congestion and increasing accident risks, says UNB.
The government attempts to remove them from major roads in Dhaka failed to see success amid protests and movements by drivers and owners.
Although there is no definite count, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) estimates that there are over 60 lakh battery-run rickshaws in the country with 10 to 12 lakh operating in Dhaka alone.
To bring discipline in their operation, the draft of the ‘Electric Three-Wheeler Management Policy 2025’ has been prepared by the Road Transport and Highways Division under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry.
As per the draft policy, all battery-operated three-wheelers must be registered with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and drivers must obtain valid driving licenses.
The vehicles will be restricted to designated routes outside national highways with separate limits set for medium- and low-speed electric three-wheelers.
A passenger and goods transport committee formed under the Road Transport Act will determine how many vehicles can operate in an area. Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Ehsanul Haque said that the uncontrolled growth of fitness-lacking battery-run rickshaws has disrupted traffic systems nationwide.
A draft for news policy has been prepared to bring them under regulation and that stakeholder feedback is now being reviewed, he said.
“We hope the policy will be approved very soon. Once implemented, it will end the ongoing disorder caused by unregulated electric rickshaws,” he added.
As per the draft, one person can own a maximum of three medium-speed and five low-speed rickshaws.
All rickshaws must be transformed into safe models within a year, according to the draft.
It says medium-speed rickshaws will be limited to a maximum speed of 50 km/h, and low-speed rickshaws to 30 km/h.
The vehicles must be constructed following BRTA-approved designs and only parts and components approved by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will be allowed.
