Railways ministry refuses to give land

A government meeting on reducing traffic congestion in the capital's Phulbaria yesterday concluded without any significant conclusion as the railways ministry refused to allocate its 2.7 acres of khas land for a temporary bus terminal.

In response to the requests of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Sayeed Khokon and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque said his ministry had decided to build a multi-storied building on the land in Ananda Bazar.

In reply, Khokon and Shajahan Khan said the land would be freed once the railways ministry starts the construction.

Finally, the meeting formed a six-member committee to scrutinise the issue and make recommendations for the land allocation.

Shajahan Khan will head the committee while the railways secretary, chief executive officer of DSCC, and representatives from associations of transport owners and workers will be included.

At the meeting held in the Nagar Bhaban, policymakers also asked police officials to conduct regular drives against hawkers illegally occupying streets in Gulistan.

The meeting had decided that no buses will be allowed to wait for passengers on roads and must take passengers from inside Sayedabad Bus Terminal.

There are multiple bus ticket counters in Sayedabad. The bus companies will immediately have to remove its counters keeping a maximum of two in the area. Besides, illegal establishments inside the terminal will be demolished for smooth vehicular movement, it decided.

Khokon chaired the meeting held at the Nagar Bhaban and Shajahan Khan attended it as the executive president of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation.

Dhaka North City Corporation has already freed streets from illegal parking in seven important areas including Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Tejgaon and Mirpur.