GPS to be mandatory in public transport

Regional roads merging with highways at 90-degree angles have been identified as a major cause of road accidents across the country, speakers said at a coordination meeting on road discipline.
The meeting recommended that roads built by the Local Government Engineering Division be gradually realigned with highways, and existing right-angle intersections be corrected, according to participants.  The decisions were taken at a meeting held at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Thursday, chaired by Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, with representatives from relevant stakeholders.
The minister also said that travel during the Eid holidays this year was more comfortable than in recent years.
Speaking after the meeting, he identified excessive speed as a key factor behind accidents and said bus operators would be required to install Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers in public transport.
“The government is introducing measures to control vehicle speed on highways. GPS devices will be mandatory in passenger buses and other public transport vehicles. Immediate action will be taken if any vehicle exceeds the speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour,” he said.
He added that the 80 km/h speed limit would be strictly enforced, with legal action against violators.
The minister also announced that ticket counters would no longer be allowed to operate randomly along highways. “They must be relocated to designated bus terminals or authorised stoppage points. This is already a policy decision.”
He noted that counters at bus terminals remain under the supervision of transport owners’ associations, helping maintain fixed fares. However, unauthorised roadside counters often operate without oversight.
“Mobile courts have taken action whenever complaints were received,” he added.