The number of unauthorised battery-run three-wheelers, known as easy-bikes, has almost tripled in Chittagong city in the last two years with the authorities turning a blind eye to the situation.
According to easy-bike owners associations, more than 3,500 easy-bikes now ply the roads of the port city. But in 2012, the number was only around 1500.
According to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983, no motor vehicle can ply without six documents — registration, fitness certificate, tax token, route permit, insurance certificate and driving licence. But the easy-bikes have none of these.
Sources at the Power Development Board (PDB) said each of the auto-bikes is run by five rechargeable batteries and has to be charged eight hours daily.
With the amount of electricity needed to recharge the five batteries of an easy bike, some 34 energy bulbs of 23 watts each can be lit for eight hours, mentioned the PDB sources.
There are two huge garages for these auto-bikes in Shekhghat and Badambagicha areas. The locals alleged that the vehicles are charged at night through illegal connections taken from the nearby electric poles which frequently causes the transformers of the areas to be overloaded and burn out.
The PDB sources also admitted that the illegal consumption of electricity is affecting the power supply as well as the transformers.
The vehicles also ply in the city’s Bandar, Taltola, Shibgonj, Mirabazar, Amborkhana, Dorgagate, Airport and Rikabibazar areas and use the roads for easy-bikes’ stands, leading to heavy traffic chaos.
An auto-bike can accommodate four passengers, but those are seen carrying nine passengers at a time which is risky as their structures are comparatively very shaky, said locals.
Assistant director (engineering) of BRTA, said, ‘The vehicles are not only illegal but also unfit because their body is very rickety.’
Ataur Rahman, OC of Kowtoaly Police Station, denied the allegation of taking bribes and said traffic inspectors handle the matter, not his department.
The easy bikes are multiplying because, BRTC official said, they have a crisis of manpower to take action against the vehicles. Traffic police have been ordered by the BRTA head office to be strict now, he added.
Deputy commissioner traffic (Port) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said they have ordered all nine traffic inspectors and 55 sergeants of their areas to seize easy-bikes found on the main roads. They have seized seven to eight vehicles in the last two months, he said.
