DHAKA: Government authorities Thursday kicked off an orchestrated drive to chase aged vehicles off Dhaka’s streets trying to ease a nagging traffic jam and mitigate people’s plight.
As planned, magistrates in mobile courts began spot check of transport health to whistle off 20-year-old buses and 25 years old trucks and other vehicles carrying goods.
The hunt for the dilapidated and ramshackle autos began with execution of all the rules of the Motor Vehicles Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner AKM Shahidul Huq opened the drive at Shahbagh intersection, one of the biggest and busiest crossroads in the capital city.
Communications Ministry, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Traffic Police Division of the DMP joined their forces in the crusade aimed at remedying the chaotic city road traffic.
There were, however, no plans unveiled on the occasion as to how the already-inadequate traffic would be replenished to carry a huge load of commuters after condemning the 20-/25-year-olds to mortuary.
Speaking on the occasion the police commissioner hoped that the owners would withdraw their superannuated vehicles and vehicles without fitness from the streets of the capital during the 45-day drive and never bring those back in service.
The magistrate of the mobile court set at Shahbagh, Mohammad Jasimuddin, told Banglanews24.com.bd that not only the old vehicles but all rules of the motor vehicle act will be enforced during the drive to discipline the unruly traffic.
He said a total of 17 mobile courts—15 under the deputy commissioner of Dhaka and two under the BRTA--are in operation. Two more mobile courts will be added and the drive will be conducted four days a week.
The magistrate also said, “The courts would be careful so that the vehicle owners are in no way harassed and human rights violated.”
He however expressed skepticism about the success of the drive because of too much publicity.
Fifteen magistrates under the deputy commissioner of Dhaka have set 15 mobile courts at 15 spots. The numbers of vehicles in Dhaka streets were seen thin in the face of the hunt, this time coming with a difference for a desperate remedy.
Even the buses which ply on ticketing were seen less in number, as many of the operators, in the name of premier bus service at exorbitant fares, run ramshackle vehicles with their bodies veneered.
The worst of traffic jams used to be seen in the city streets. Office-goers failing to avail any transport were Thursday seen trudging down to offices.
A banglanews24.com.bd staff correspondent, who visited different areas of the city, found aged vehicles almost absent from the streets. The drivers of such outmoded vehicles were seen dodging mobile courts by taking a detour to avoid the mischief of mobile courts.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Mohammad Muhibul Haq told banglanews24.com.bd that the current drive is “completely different” from the drives conducted in the past. “The administration this time around is in the field with all agencies concerned and with a strong mind,” he said.
He said the drive will be even conducted at night and magistrates of the mobile courts will change spots when needed. “The success of the drive will depend on how much the people of the country are respectful to the law.”
BDST/1450, JULY 15, 2010
