DMP launches drive against dilapidated, risky vehicles

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is launching a special campaign against dilapidated, risky and unfit vehicles in the capital Dhaka. The DMP issued a public notice in this regard on Wednesday (May 6).

In the notice, the owners and drivers concerned have been specifically requested not to ply vehicles that have exceeded the prescribed 'economic life' in the Dhaka Metropolitan area.

The DMP said that currently some dilapidated, risky and unfit buses and goods vehicles are plying in the capital. These vehicles often break down on roads, flyovers and bridges, causing severe traffic jams. As a result, public suffering is becoming extreme and road safety is being seriously disrupted. To deal with this situation, a campaign will be conducted against all types of risky and unfit vehicles that have exceeded their economic life in the Dhaka Metropolitan area.

According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) notification of 2023, the economic life of buses and minibuses has been set at 20 years and the economic life of trucks, covered vans and other goods-carrying motor vehicles has been set at 25 years.

The notification also said that if the specified period is exceeded, especially the rickety and risky vehicles continue to ply, a special operation will be conducted soon against them. The operation, conducted in coordination with the Special Metropolitan Magistrate and Traffic Police, will involve strict legal action including fines, sending the vehicles to dumping sites.