Dhaka, March 29 Bangladesh is set to introduce the Global Positioning System (GPS) to regulate bus movement in the capital, which is said to be a major cause of traffic congestion, the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges said on Sunday.
"Authorities will monitor vehicles centrally, installing GPS trackers, particularly in buses, along with trucks and covered vans, to ensure discipline in transport movement," Sheikh Rabiul Alam told reporters.
Alam said the system would allow the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the police to track the location, speed, and routes of vehicles in real time.
The Bangladeshi capital consistently ranks among the most congested areas in the world.
A World Bank and several other studies have said that traffic jams, particularly in Dhaka, cost the economy an estimated 2.9 to 6 percent of Bangladesh's GDP.
According to Bangladesh's Road Safety Foundation (RSF), Bangladesh saw at least 342 road accidents during the 10-day Eid-ul-Fitr travel period from March 16 to 26, resulting in 274 fatalities and over 1,500 injuries.
"Two major accidents occurred. Besides, the usual scenarios – gridlocks, people waiting for hours, or being unable to go home due to a lack of vehicles, and spending Eid day on the road – existed before," Alam said.