Rest houses with modern facilities are being constructed on highways for truck drivers. The government is constructing rest houses on four highways: Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Rangpur and Dhaka-Khulna. The rest houses will have bathrooms, sleeping and prayer area and other facilities like tea and coffee shop.
The road transport ministry has said that after long hours on the road, drivers become tired and at a high-level government meeting, the need for rest was discussed.
To offer the chance for rest and rejuvenation of drivers, the initiative for rest houses was taken.
The project has been passed at the ECNEC on Aug 27.
The construction of the rest houses began from July this year and will finish by Jun 30, 2021, at a cost of Tk 2.26 billion. The project will also feature road dividers and a plan to make the roads greener.
Bridges and transport minister, Obaidul Quader, said: “The project has been undertaken after talking to transport owners and workers; this will reduce accidents on the roads and the mentality of owners will improve.”
President of the Bangladesh Road Transport Association, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, says: “one of our demands has been fulfilled and we thank the government for this.”
Ranga adds: “A driver going from Panchagarh to Chattogram can take rest and refreshments at the rest houses.”
A driver observes: “Often, we drive for 20/22 hours non-stop and cannot take a shower and feel drowsy; this will certainly help us and we welcome such a step.”