Traffic jam & old vehicles
Photo: STAR
The BRTA is reportedly planning to withdraw 15 years old cars and other old vehicles from Dhaka city as one of the measures to ease traffic congestion. The reason for traffic congestion in Dhaka is not old vehicles only. The main reasons are road condition, excessive number of vehicles, mishandling by traffic police, ignorance of traffic rules, excessive number of pedestrians and their crossing of roads indiscriminately, contrasting speed of vehicles and in many areas rickshaws, narrow spaces of roads and by-lanes etc. I think old cars are one of the minor reasons. So, attacking old cars as the main culprit for traffic jam will not bring much change in the present situation. The gigantic problem of Dhaka is, in fact, the population. Why has the BRTA made the old cars their first target? Many of the old car owners belong to middle or lower middle-income groups. They have bought these cars with their meagre income. After buying these vehicles they have altered many parts including engine which are available in Dhaka. With his old car the man is carrying his children to and from schools and then going to his workplace. If his old car is road-worthy, he cannot be denied his right of travelling in his city. If the transport authorities implement this biased policy, it will be a violation of his rights as a citizen of Dhaka. The owners of old cars also pay the same road taxes as the new car owners do. I am sure the government is not taking the old vehicles and providing the owners with a new one. If it is so, then there is no problem. But I am pretty sure the government is not doing that. The action will also put more than 90% of the Dhakaites in a dangerous situation, because there are only a few CNG run taxicabs and engine-run rickshaws. Most of the time these private vehicles refuse to go to the destinations the passengers want them to; rickshaws are not allowed in many roads. I believe if the running old cars are not allowed, more than 90% of the Dhakaites will have no transport to move. The government should introduce enough transports for both short and long distances, improve public transport situation, educate the traffic police, renovate bad roads and then withdraw the old vehicles. Otherwise, there will be a disaster.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments