Tax for driving cars in posh areas on cards: DNCC mayor

Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam has said the authorities are planning to impose tax on car owners to drive their vehicles in the capital’s posh areas like Gulshan or Baridhara.

“The numbers of vehicles on the streets are following an ever-increasing trend causing huge traffic jams. So, there is a plan that, if anyone enters into these posh areas with their vehicles, they will have to pay a tax,” he said.

The mayor disclosed this plan while participating in a rally arranged in the capital’s Malibagh area on Saturday to mark the ‘World Car Free Day’.

Dhaka Transport Co-ordination Authority arranged the programme under the banner of ‘Let’s walk and use public transports and reduce the use of private cars’.

“You will always see an overwhelming number of cars occupying the roads of Gulshan1, Gulshan 2, Kakoli and Baridhara areas. Even in one family, the parents and their children have separate private cars for their travelling. The increasing number of cars are creating chaotic situation, but people are heedless,” the mayor said.

Regarding the illegally occupied footpaths, the mayor said, “The footpaths will be allowed for the use of setting up holiday markets for certain times of every week, as it happens in many foreign countries. No one will be able to do business except during the fixed time and no one will have to pay money for such business.”

“If people use their private cares less and walk instead, it will not only reduce traffic jams but also help them to keep fit.”, he argued.