Public transport set to get GPS system

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said the government has decided to introduce GPS tracking system in all public transport vehicles across the country to curb irregularities on roads and highways.

He warned that action would be taken if vehicles exceed speeds of 80 kilometres per hour on highways.

The minister made the remarks on Sunday after a post-Eid travel evaluation meeting.

During the meeting, he said GPS tracking would be introduced in all public transport to help monitor vehicle speed, detect route violations, prevent overcharging of fares, and identify unfit vehicles operating on the roads.

He added that automatic action would be taken if any vehicle is found overspeeding or operating outside its designated route through the GPS monitoring system.

Responding to a question about passenger suffering and accidents during the Eid journey, the minister said that although nearly 15 million people left Dhaka within a short period, there was no major gridlock. While there was pressure in some areas, traffic movement on most highways remained normal.

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However, he expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in a few unfortunate accidents.

The minister said the evaluation meeting was held with all relevant agencies to review the measures taken to ensure smooth Eid travel. Representatives from the police, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and transport owners’ and workers’ associations attended the meeting.

He also said several recommendations were adopted to make travel safer and reduce traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. These include preventing the establishment of temporary markets on highways, imposing stricter controls on truck and cargo vehicle movement, and increasing monitoring in high-risk areas.

Special coordinated measures will also be taken to reduce congestion in the Gazipur–Chandra and Shafipur areas, he added.

The minister further said that roadside ticket counters would not be allowed in the future, and ticket sales must be ensured from designated bus terminals. A policy decision has already been made in this regard.

Regarding ferry crossings, he said it would be mandatory to ensure passengers disembark before vehicles are allowed to board ferries, and strict monitoring would be enforced.

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He added that the BRTA and law enforcement agencies would jointly operate this digital monitoring system. Surveillance through CCTV and speed cameras has already been introduced and will be further expanded.