GPS Trackers for All Public Transport to Curb Irregularities: Road Minister

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam announced on Sunday that GPS trackers will be installed across all public transport to monitor irregularities and identify unfit vehicles.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat following a high-level meeting on road safety, the Minister emphasized that the technology will simplify the process of detecting law violations in real-time.

The Minister outlined several key measures aimed at reducing road accidents and improving highway management. Highway police will be more active in monitoring traffic and enforcing regulations. Immediate action is being taken against operators reported for overcharging passengers. A strict policy requires 100% of passengers to disembark from buses before the vehicle boards a ferry. To reduce congestion, ticket counters will no longer be permitted along highway roadsides.

Reflecting on the recent Eid-ul-Fitr holiday travel, Minister Rabiul Alam noted that while the journey was "overall comfortable" for most, illegal vehicle movement contributed to localized congestion.

"Trucks and buses were restricted on highways during the Eid period, yet some continued to ply for three days. This directly caused traffic jams in several areas," the Minister stated.

Despite these challenges, the Minister confirmed that the total number of road accidents this year has decreased compared to the previous year. He vowed that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible for the "unexpected accidents" that did occur.