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Checking Vehicle Overloading

Guidelines yet to be implemented

Staff Correspondent
With overloading causing huge damages to roads and bridges, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is not sure when it will be able to control axle load following approved guideline and international standards.
Speaking at a public hearing, RHD officials said the government in November 2017 increased the maximum weight limit for goods-laden vehicles for an "interim period" but they do not know when they will start following the original guideline
Besides overloading, RHD officials including its Chief Engineer Mohammad Jawed Alam faced questions related to poor development project proposals (DPPs), dues of contractors andseveral other issues.
RHD organised the hearing at its headquarters in Tejgaon as part of its implementation of National Integrity Strategy.
In May 2005, the then communication ministry (now road transport and bridges ministry) through a gazette notification had set a maximum permissible axle load limit for vehicles for the first time.
It fixed 13 to 15 tonnes for two axles, 22 to 25 tonnes for three axles, 25 to 33 tonnes for four axles and 35 to 38 tonnes for five axles, which were consistent with international standards.
In June 2012, the ministry prepared a guideline on Axle Load Control Centre.
In August 2016, the authorities
tried to impose fines for overloading under the guideline, but transport owners and workers damaged weighbridges in Manikganj and Chattogram on the very first day of their protest.
The government increased the maximum weight limit through a November 2017 order, which states that two-axle vehicle can carry maximum 22 tonnes, three-axle maximum 30 tonnes and four-axle maximum 40 tonnes.
Out of the three axle control centres, two are now in operation. Only five percent overloading can reduce road longevity by 18 percent, said an expert.
Yesterday, Md Amanullah, a superintending engineer (administration and establishment) of RHD, said the "interim decision”
was taken following "consensus of all stakeholders" including transport leaders.
"It was decided that the rate would be reduced after further consultation and finally the guideline would be followed," he said, adding, "Although it [the decision) cannot be termed scientific, it was taken following discussion."
Asked when they will be able to follow the original guideline, Amanullah said a project has been taken to install 21 weighbridges on major highways to check overloading.
"Once those are set up within one and a half years, we hope the [road transport and bridges] ministry and other stakeholders will take the decision," he said.
Guidelines
FROM PAGE 3 As per the project document, which Ecnec passed in September, the authorities will build the axle load control centres forTk 1,630.28 crore within June 2022.
The chief engineer said the way they are proceeding, overloading will be controlled soon.
Asked about poor DPP that often escalate project cost and time, he said there are several agencies involved in mega projects. Land acquisition, service line relocation and some other works, which are not in RHD's control, are often responsible for the delay and that ultimately escalate cost, he added.
Chandan Kumar Basak, an additional chief engineer of RUD, said the Planning Commission asked them to prepare a three-year project, where foreign investment is also involved.
But it is not often possible to complete a mega project within three years as it takes around a year for the project to be approved at Ecnec. So they have to change the deadline, he added.
Abul Kamal Azad, superintending engineer (maintenance circle) of RHD, said RHD gotTk 2,500 crore against the demand forTk 10,670 crore in 2019-20 fiscal for maintenance.
He said they have to maintain 40 to 45 percent roads under the network annually and the allocation is not enough. He, however, said there is a shortage of planning too.
Asked about the prime minister's directives to collect toll from four-lane highways, Azad said they have prepared a draft in this regard and will send it to the ministry soon.
Rowshan Ara Begum, additional secretary to Road Transport and Highways Division, and several RHD additional chief engineers also spoke at the programme.