Long-distance Vehicles

Changes in fitness inspection rules

14 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has brought some changes to fitness inspection regulations, allowing long-distance buses, minibuses and trucks registered in Dhaka city to have their fitness inspection done outside Dhaka. Md Saiful Hoque, director (Engineering) of BRTA, said, "From now, these vehicles can have their fitness inspection done at the BRTA offices in the districts around the Dhaka city or in other districts mentioned in their route permit." The communications ministry approved the new regulations last month, he said. "Truck and lorry owners will benefit from the new system, as these types of vehicles are not allowed to enter Dhaka city during daytime, making it difficult for them to go to BRTA offices during office hours and obtain fitness certificate," said the BRTA official. Besides, it will save time for bus and minibus companies and also reduce the pressure on Dhaka BRTA office to some extent, he added. According to BRTA, a total of 30,015 trucks, 8,210 buses, 8,317 minibuses are currently registered in Dhaka city. A database of the vehicles having their fitness inspections done outside Dhaka and photographs of each vehicle will be sent to Dhaka BRTA office, which will finally issue the fitness certificates to the vehicle owners. A separate counter will open for them, the official said.