Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the government has taken an initiative to issue fitness certificates of vehicles from district level. “Besides, the validity of private cars’ fitness certificates is going to be extended for two years from the existing one year…from now, the fitness certificates of vehicles will have to be taken in every two years,” he said.
Quader was speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat in the capital after a meeting with the heads of different departments and project directors of different projects being implemented under the ministry, an official release said. He said the government has also taken a step to create about 3 lakh skilled drivers in the country. The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has been asked to take a project in this regard.
The road transport minister said the country’s first six-lane expressway –Dhaka-Mawa Highway – is going to be opened in March next. In addition to this, he said, the development works of Dhaka-Tangail Highway to upgrade it into four-lane is expected to be completed within June next.
Quader, also Awami League General Secretary, warned that if the contractors fail to start road repair and construction works within stipulated timeframe, action will be taken against those. The Road and Highway Department has already been given instruction to take punitive measures, including cancelation of work orders, against the contractors failed to start works, he said.
Replying to a question, the road transport and bridges minister said the overall progress of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project has reached 77 percent now while 23 spans of the bridges were installed so far. The 24th span of the bridge will be installed on February 10 next,” he added.
Quader said at least 300 out of the 980 employees from China working in Padma Bridge project are currently on leave. Some 33 Chinese employees returned here, he said, adding that of them, 25 Chinese people were quarantined. He said Padma Bridge construction will not be affected if this situation continues for the next two months. But it is any longer than that, there may be some impacts, he added. Quader said the construction works of the metro rail route-6 in the capital was completed by 42 percent.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam, chief engineer of the Roads and Highway Department Md Ashraful Alam, BRTA chairman Dr Kamrul Ahsan and BRTC chairman Md. Ehsan-E-Elahi were, among others, present.
