New plan to regulate battery-powered rickshaws: DSCC administrator

The government has taken a new plan to regulate battery-powered and motorised rickshaws in Dhaka city. Steps are being taken to designate specific factories to prevent unauthorised manufacturing of battery-powered rickshaws across the city.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam disclosed this information while responding to journalists' questions after the trial inauguration of a modern automated traffic signal system at Shahbagh intersection on Thursday, August 13.

The DSCC administrator said the auto-rickshaws or motorised rickshaws that will be permitted will no longer be manufactured anywhere. Certain factories will be designated for Dhaka city. These factories will need to obtain permission from the concerned authorities before producing rickshaws.

He said Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) will provide technical assistance in this regard. After approval and technical verification of the designated factories, they will be allowed to produce rickshaws.

Additionally, there are plans to gradually convert battery-powered rickshaws to electric systems, he said. A specific timeframe will be set for this. Steps will be taken to convert battery-powered rickshaws to electric systems within the designated time.

The DSCC administrator also said the government has plans to use solar energy in rickshaws. Increasing the use of solar energy would reduce pressure on the electricity grid. The government has an overall plan in this regard, and it will be implemented in phases.

Stating that enforcing laws alone will not reduce traffic congestion and chaos on Dhaka's streets, Md Abdus Salam said city dwellers also need to be aware. If the public gives the government time, initiatives will gradually be taken to solve long-standing problems.

Earlier, a trial inauguration of the modern automated traffic signal system was held at Shahbagh intersection. As part of modernising traffic management in Dhaka city, initiatives have been taken to install such automated signal systems at 20 more important intersections initially.

If the government's new plan is implemented, it will create opportunities to bring more discipline to the approval, technical standards and movement management of these vehicles, in addition to curbing unregulated production of battery-powered rickshaws, according to officials.