A government move on finalising a policy drafted to regulate freewheeling three-wheelers halted in a prolonged pause as various stakeholders gave the cold shoulder to request for their opinions.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) drafted the policy to bring such variegated vehicles, like Nasimun, Karimun, and easy bike, which are often blamed for traffic jams in cities and accidents on highways.
Sources say the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) under the MoRTB sought comments from 24 government agencies, including the Cabinet Division, and Home and Commerce ministries and posted the draft on its website for comments three months back.
"Only 10 government agencies responded, but no comment was received from any quarter on the RTHD website," says one official.
The government made the move to make the policy in line with recommendations submitted by a special committee formed to guide the government on three-wheeler and similar kinds of vehicles in June 2019.
Though vehicles like battery-driven auto-rickshaws, Nasimun, Karimun, Pakhi, Votvoti etc have been major causes of accidents, many quarters, including Members of Parliament, have been in favour of these transports due to their support to rural economy by way of transporting passengers and goods at lower costs.
They rather suggest bringing these vehicles under regulation by setting standards, which is yet to be ready although the MoRTB declared a ban on the plying of these vehicles on highways.
The committee recommendation was placed in January 2021. The draft was prepared in October.
According to old data of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), automobile tempo-like vehicles constitute 6.0 per cent of the total registered vehicles numbering over 320,000. As there is no registration system for other three-wheelers, the number could not be ascertained.
Transport experts say these vehicles are threats for the streets for substandard braking system, steering suspension, balancing etc, which cause those to overturn or fail brake frequently.
As speed level also does not match with other motorized vehicles, presence of these vehicles on highways also causes major fatalities in the country.
The draft policy recommends these vehicles to follow the BRTA standards and ply only permitted routes through registration from BRTA local office, city corporations or municipalities of respective areas.
Easy bike, which will also have to follow the BRTA standards and get route permit for operating, however, will have to withdraw after two years. The policy recommends no replacement of the easy bike.
The policy also suggests fixing the number of each of these modes of vehicle to control uncontrolled growth and fixing fares.
Official sources say as the RTHD has received some comments from government agencies, those are now being incorporated into the draft first and then there will be organized a stakeholders' meeting to share it.
"It will take time to finalise the draft policy as it will then be sent to the cabinet committee for approval," says the official.
smunima@yahoo.com