The government has increased the economic lifetime of four-stroke three-wheeler auto-rickshaws by one year, following a recommendation by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
In this regard, the Roads Division on Tuesday issued a letter to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
The 11-year long economic lives of 5,500 CNG-run three-wheelers in the capital were supposed to expire on December 31, 2013; meaning that all those auto-rickshaws were supposed to be replaced by new ones after the date.
An auto-rickshaw owner said it would not be possible for him to replace by the deadline. Unless the economic life of auto-rickshaws was increased, around 11,000 drivers would become unemployed, while the passengers would also face a crisis, he added.
Officials at the Roads Division said around 13,000 CNG-run auto-rickshaws operate in the capital.
“We have increased the replacement time of CNG [auto-rickshaws] by one year following a recommendation of Buet,” Roads Division Secretary MAN Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.
The official letter has already been issued, he said, adding that a circular would be issued in a day or two.
Siddique said Buet had recommended increasing the economic life from 11 years to 15 years.
Saying that a policy change would be required to increase the economic, the secretary said the decision was made for an ad interim period.
Buet however set four conditions, including the full overhauling of engine, and the replacement of hood cover and seats. Besides, necessary repairs of body, suspension and break transmission have to be carried out.
“We would take permission after complying with the conditions of Buet,” Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Auto-Rickshaw Business Owners’ Association General Secretary Md Faridul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.
Asked about the dilapidated conditions of the vehicles, he said the auto-rickshaw owners were unsure whether the economic life would be increased or not. Following the government move, the owners would now carry out repairs, Faridul said.
Saying the CNG-run auto rickshaws operate for 15 years in India, he asked why it had to be only 11 years in Bangladesh.
Earlier, CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners observed a 48-hour strike during May 26-27 in Dhaka city to press home a 10-point demand, which included raising the auto-rickshaws’ economic life.