The government is going to start a month-long survey to estimate the number of unregistered motorcycles plying in the capital from Wednesday.
Registration of new motorcycles will remain suspended from Wednesday for the duration of the survey.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday was talking to reporters after a meeting to discuss traffic control in Dhaka city during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr and expansion of routes for BRTC buses.
He said: “At present, the number of registered motorcycles in Dhaka city is nearly 277,000. But the real figure may be three times more. Tough action will be taken against the those who have failed to register their motorcycles.” “Those that are registered outside Dhaka will also be identified during the survey.”
Obaidul Quader said at least 114,000 old and unfit vehicles are plying on the roads in Dhaka city. As per the law, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police will take action against the owners of these vehicles and scrap them. Within a week, the concerned authority will confer with the representatives of law enforcement agencies and owners of such vehicles.
The minister also said motorcyclists often drive on the city footpaths, which are already occupied by hawkers, causing even more discomfort to the pedestrians.
The authorities will demolish illegal structures and regulate illegal vehicles ahead of time so as to facilitate the transport system during Ramadan and Eid.
Roads Division Secretary MAN Siddik and other high officials of the ministry, officials of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and other concerned authorities also attended the meeting.
