Database for CNG-run Autorickshaw Owners, Drivers
CMP move gets poor response
The Traffic department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has received poor response from the owners and drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws in making of an electronic database about their identity.
With 12 days left for submitting information about identity of the owners and the drivers, of 13000 CNG-run autorickshaws, only 37 drivers and owners have so far submitted their information to the department until November 18.
Most of the drivers said they are unaware of the matter of making the database.
The traffic authorities at a meeting of Route Transport Committee (RTC) on October 22 asked the autorickshaw owners and drivers to submit information about their identity by November 30.
The department took the decision at a meeting on September 14 to curb crimes, including mugging committed by the autorickshaw drivers as well as to reduce suffering of the commuters.
Commuters have been suffering a lot as most of the autorickshaw drivers violate traffic rules and do not use metres in their vehicles and charge extra fare.
The traffic department could not ensure use of meters in the three-wheelers, as the drivers are indifferent to the problem. They do not follow the new fare structure fixed by the government on April 26 following the price hike of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Sources at the traffic department said they have seized around 841 autorickshaws and filed 5,293 cases for not using meters during the drives since September 14.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Traffic) Md Mahmudur Rahman said the new database will help trace the culprit drivers easily if they commit any crime or violate traffic rules.
The traffic department initiated the process of keeping data of autorickshaw owners since July in 2007. The department asked them to display identity chart of the drivers in their vehicles.
But only 50 percent of the vehicles were found keeping the identity chart when most of them were with wrong information, said a traffic sergeant.
Prosecution-in-Charge of traffic department Nazmul Islam said they made a database last year about the identity of the owners of 16,629 CNG-run three-wheelers plying in the city and in the adjoining upazilas.
He said they now want to make database of the drivers as well as to upgrade the old data of the owners.
He said they have also taken initiative to provide identity cards to the drivers with detailed information and photograph signed by the DC (traffic). The display of identity cards by the drivers while plying the vehicles will be made mandatory, he added.
Information included owner's name, driver's name, present address, father's name, photograph and contact numbers of both the owner and the driver, vehicle number, engine number, year model, chassis number, manufacturer company of the vehicle, driver's identification mark, name and address of caretaker (if any), sources said.
Mahmudur said the database and the identity card will also be helpful for the passengers to inform about any driver immediately to the police if the latter charge higher fare or misbehave with them.
Rafiqul Islam, a driver, said he has yet to hear about submitting information. Abdus Salam, another driver, said such an initiative is nothing but to harass them again.
Hailing the traffic initiative autorickshaw owner Dipankar said he will submit information soon.
When asked about the poor response in submitting information by the owners and the drivers, Mahmudur said they will start massive publicity soon about the process among the owners and drivers.
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