Remove unfit vehicles from Dhaka streets

It is astounding to see that out of every five buses more than one of them in the capital has no valid fitness certificate. Year after year the authorities concerned have been reiterating that they will drive them out of the streets. The coordination committee tasked with bus route rationalization and operating buses under companies held a meeting. The meeting discussed the issue elaborately.

In September 2018, the government formed the 10-member committee to rationalize bus routes and bring all public buses under certain number of companies to bring public transport under discipline. In 2019, the government formed another committee to rationalize bus routes and operate buses under a limited number of companies. Every effort of the government has fallen flat.

So far it has managed to launch the system in three of the 42 reshaped routes and that too is now under question. The Member Secretary of the committee reportedly said Hanif Paribahan was supposed to operate on the route 23. But the company has lost interest as many unauthorized buses are now operating on the route making it difficult for it to continue its operation.

The statement placed before the coordination committee brings forth the question of the seriousness of the step taken by the government. Who are the owners of those vehicles without any valid fitness certifications? How can they defy a government order? Reportedly a section of unfit private bus owners operate their buses through bribes. Drivers of those unfit and worn-out buses also know that there is nobody who can do anything to them. This is the reason they also become reckless causing accidents on the roads killing people.

Of course the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has data on such unfit vehicles. But they are taking no measures or steps to stop them plying from the street of the capital. A few years ago, owners of 1, 500 run-down buses sought route permits and the regional transport committee recommended that they be given route permits. Under what authority and ground the committee gave them permission is a question.

However, in 2019 the coordination committee decided not to issue route permits to those buses. The decision made them completely illegal. Paying bribes to get the illegal buses permitted on the roads is now an open secret. Nobody acknowledges the fact but it is a fact that it is happening. That is why illegal buses are on the streets in the capital defying the decision of the coordination committee.

Those unfit vehicles not only defy the rules and regulations set by the committee they also are to blame for road accidents. These buses operate on the contractual basis. The more trips they can make the more money they can make. The owners demand a certain amount of money from the drivers. Drivers try to reach the target set by the owners as after the set target whatever money they earn it is theirs. Drivers and helpers distribute the money among themselves. This is the system that is the key reason for accidents on the roads of the capital.

As long as this system is in place no government can remove those vehicles from the streets. There is a nefarious nexus in this sector operating under the very nose of the authorities concerned. This system that kills people is responsible for traffic tailback on the streets of Dhaka. The government should also immediately drive those vehicles out of the city streets. We hope and urge the government to take stern actions against those responsible for traffic jam and accidents.