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Initiatives to streamline port city traffic fail

Nur Uddin Alamgir
A state of indiscipline has been prevailing in the transport sector here as tire vehicles indiscriminately load and unload passengers in the port city, violating the rules.
The initiatives taken by the traffic department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) to streamline die traffic movement have apparently failed.
The traffic department introduced counter-based service last year asking the city service buses to drop and pick passengers from the designated stoppages while commuters were also asked to buy tickets in advance before boarding the buses. A number of
makeshift counters were set up at different stoppages on the 11 routes. Fare had been increased for the "special services.”
Sitting of passengers beside the drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws and tempos and travelling standing on the back of the tempos were also prohibited. The use of cellphone by the drivers while driving vehicles was banned and use of seatbelt for safety was made mandatory.
Earlier, the traffic department forced most of the CNG-run autorickshaws to set up an iron-grill-cover around the vehicle to save the drivers' and passengers' from criminal offences that increased in an alarming
rate at that time.
But, the owners and drivers started noncooperation few days ago and they withdrew most of their vehicles from the road and removed the makeshift ticket counters to create an artificial crisis.
Excluding the "Metro Special Service,” which runs with counter-based system, the buses run and realise fare at their will pushing the city commuters in a great trouble everyday.
Altercation and scuffle with the transport workers over fare and services are common phenomena in the city while the traffic department is indifferent to the sufferings of the passengers. .
Besides, the CNG-run autorickshaws have removed the iron-grill from their vehicles that eases criminal offences and the tempo drivers to take passengers beside the driver.
Drivers now use mobile phones and hardly use seatbelt.
Munrnun Dey, a government official, said the steps taken by the traffic department made their journey easier for at least for few days but now travelling through the city is tough for the commuters, specially for the women.
She said the passengers now travel standing inside the buses and are to pay extra fare in the name of special services.
Mohammad Shahbuddin, a trader, said traffic department should take stern action against the drivers and owners who violate rules only to extract additional profit.
Referring to the bus services in the capital, he said it would not be tough if the traffic department wants to streamline the services.
Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Mahmudur Rahman blaming a section of bus owners for the situation said they oppose the counter-based service for making more profit.
He said they cann't take action properly against the violators due to shortage of manpower.
"We are trying to bring the situation under con-
trol discussing the matters with the transport association leaders and creating awareness among the drivers," Mahmudur said.
Chittagong City Bus-Minibus Human Hauler Owners' Association Line
Secretary Abdul Hakim told The Daily Star that most of the owners are reluctant to run their vehicles through counterbased service since they cannot maintain expenditure through it.
He said the owners run
the vehicles as local service and the authorities should force them to abide by the newly introduced services.
Over 13,000 CNG-run autorickshaws, 2,000 tempos and 840 buses ply 11 routes in the port city.