Over 18,000 unfit vehicles ply Ctg roads
Worn-out trucks ply the Port Connecting Road in Chittagong city. Photo: STAR
Over 18,253 unfit light and heavy vehicles have been plying the roads in Chittagong without fitness certificates, depriving the government of huge revenue for lack of proper monitoring. Out of 78,778 light and heavy vehicles, 60,525 renewed their certificates and paid tax as of June 30 despite having an exemption from fine for delayed renewal of fitness certificates and late payment of tax, said the sources at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Chittagong. The rest 18,253 vehicles are running without fitness certificates till date dodging around one fourth of the revenue last fiscal year. BRTA earned around Tk 81.15 crore from fitness certificates as fee and road tax this fiscal year against Tk 61.14 crore from 42,236 vehicles last fiscal year, sources said. Fee for renewal of a heavy vehicle is Tk 945 and a light vehicle Tk 645. For failure, late fee for a heavy vehicle have been fixed at Tk 300 and a light vehicle Tk 150 for each additional month. Road tax for different mode of vehicles ranges from Tk 5,545 to Tk 9,045, said the sources. The unfit vehicles are usually run by untrained drivers or helpers, causing road accidents that leave a good number of people killed and injured every year. BRTA Motor Vehicle Inspector Mohammad Shamsul Kabir said 141 accidents took place in Chittagong and Bandarban districts under Chittagong zone in 2008-2009, leaving 127 people dead and 163 injured while many of such accidents and casualties remain unreported. Kabir said they send data of the unfit vehicles after every six months to the traffic department of police for cheeking them and realising revenue. BRTA Assistant Director Mohammad Masud Alam said they issue notices regularly to the defaulting vehicle owners for renewal of certificates and payment of road tax. He said they carry out drive against the unfit vehicles with the help of traffic department. Mobile court will be launched soon in this regard, he added. Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Mohammad Hasan admitted the contribution of the unfit vehicles to the road accidents, saying that their drive against the unfit vehicles would continue. He emphasised the need for enhanced combined efforts by the traffic department and BRTA to check the unfit vehicles. Meanwhile, at the directive of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Asaduzzaman Mia of Chittagong range, police launched a two-day drive against the vehicles plying without fitness certificates under 14 police station in Chittagong on Thursday and Friday, said the sources in Chittagong district police. “During the drive three check posts were set up at Sitakunda on Dhaka-Chittagong highway, at Hathazari on Chittagong-Hathazari Road and at Patiya on Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway,” said Acting Superintendent of Police (SP) Amena Begum of Chittagong. “Cases were filed against 291 vehicles and 28 vehicles were seized during drive,” Amena said.
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