In the last episode, I told about the restriction of battery bikes and the dualism of government policies. I will tell you today, what is the initiative taken by the government to provide the benefits of battery bikes or Easy bikes!
The government decided in 2014 to set up a solar-powered charging station in six divisional cities (excluding Dhaka). The main objective behind this was to reduce pressure on the national grid and prevent electricity theft. At that time, it was said that, except for Dhaka under a pilot project, the cost of establishment of six charging stations in the rest of the divisional cities would be Rs. 10 crores. The cost of setting up of each station, including 1255 kW solar panel, is 15 crores (why not spend more than one and a half million, understandable!). Each station can charge 120 sets of battery per day (120 sets of battery means 480 or 600 batteries), it was not clear here, after the explanation of BPDB).
At one time, the cost of the charge will be 50 rupees, it was calculated out of the calculation, daily income would be 6,000 rupees, one year income of 22 lakhs taka. At that time the owner or others should charge 60-70 taka for charging one set battery.
BPDB outlet, a set of Easy Bikes has 5 batteries, each 60 volts, which is one kilowatt capacity, and takes 4-5 hours to charge the whole set (this estimate 2014). They now increase the amount of battery bikes to power up to 400 megawatts, and their number is estimated to be 4 lakhs (before that 2116 MW and 2,40,000 battery-powered bikes are running). A senior official said in the newspaper that this power is stolen directly by tying a metal hook and two-thirds of battery bikes. And the rest charges the electricity from the house. Both are unacceptable to BPDB or the government.
Meanwhile, the power cell, a government organization, started the effort to make the batteries (2014) battery charged with solar power. But as a proof of the co-ordination of the government or authorities, the journalist asked the Chairman of the BRT in this regard, he replied that he did not know anything about it. This resulted in the prohibition of battery.
Two years later, in 2016, the first light of this solar power initiative was to show the face of light. The Rural Electrification Board creates the first solar-powered charging station at an estimated cost of Tk 50 lakh, but sadly, in Keraniganj, Dhaka. Policy makers feel, and such optimism also tells reporters that if the business is profitable and popular, then battery carriers will play a big role in unemployment. They also said that the government wants to bring in this sector (mainly to set up a charging station) by providing loans on easy terms for entrepreneurs. However, the station can now charge 20-22 battery bikes at one time, and before the prescribed 50 rupees, each time it takes.
On the other hand, a small news came to my notice, on August 1, 2015, the Ministry of Communication banned all uncontrollable and three-wheeled buses on 22 highways, against them 'Bangladesh Auto-rickshaw-auto-tempo owner-driver Sangram Parishad' (they are the drivers of these vehicles themselves). And claiming to be the owner). In the protest meeting, it was said that two lakh drivers - owners and mechanics of the country and their families - As a result, people are living their lives. There is no gain in this protest, no need to say.
I gathered all the information that I saw, the government encouraged him once the battery bikes started, without any specific policy. Bangladesh army has got a good chance of business, and it is a good way of knowing the bushes. After that, when the streets were swamped, the government had chosen the easiest way to hand them, that is, the prohibition. After that, he took this stubborn decision, it is not possible to implement it anymore.
On the other hand, ezeebikes or battery bikes have also increased abnormally, behind which the corrupt government officials and employees are extremely handsome. They have devised a number of schemes, and bypassing them and passing them through the law. Ezie bikes, where rickshaws competed with, got the power of the shoe burned by auto rickshaw and buses. Users or consumers have been profited, apparently; But the increase in the traffic jams and movement is much more risky.
Government, experts or other authorities have repeatedly emphasized on two things, (1) the security of life and (ii) electricity misuse The two things that have never come to their mind are: (1) Environmental role and (2) its impact on the public transport.
There can be no debate on the danger of passenger life, no one can walk on the road. Why not just bike or bike bikes, go to any of the three wheels, such as the auto rickshaw is dangerous to the highway. So the initiative to ban those highways is commendable.
Batterybike's lead acid battery is also a dangerously dangerous environment. They are not being properly disposed, and acid or whole battery is sometimes dropped into open space. I have not seen any issues in the government at any stage, I did not think.
Electricity abuse is a big allegation, most of the battery bikes are illegal connections. But that is the waste, who is saying this or why? In my electricity department, I can say that there is no waste of electricity. This is a very interesting concept that senior officials or policy makers used to use often. The electricity that is produced is never unused, it must be used in some way. Now someone may bills the government, some give less, the rest give a bribe, and nobody will give it. This attitude encourages corruption and does not allow a balanced distribution of wealth. When a wealthy person stole the electricity of his AC or luxurious electrical equipment; That's the uneven distribution of assets. But in most cases, it is seen that the poorest and weak businessmen steal from the power line of the street and run their families. Even if rich industrialists steal electricity, The excellence of industrial development and employment; They are pretended not to see (I have removed corruption!).
Now roughly middle-class or lower-middle class people are running eziebik garages, in many cases who are running, they are the owner of the vehicle. There is no garage in them, a car is their property. And those who are using the battery bikes are none but high, all of them middle class or low-middle class. So, a city is providing transport services to a large part of the population and it is providing employment for a poor section of society. So, instead of distributing power and free distribution, what are we getting or what is the benefit of society? If someone assesses financially and analyzes profit-loss, then it may be a great topic for research. Earlier, the battery should not be banned by biking.
My job was to find out the role of all types of paratrangates, including the Easy Bike or Battery Bikes, in the public transportation (especially in their accessibility). I could not go further, I just found out all the walks and walks mode choice models. From this, possible accessibility and equity will be possible in the future. My primary idea or hypothesis was to increase the accessibility of the poor people of the city or the accessibility of most people. I have not been able to prove it yet, in time shortage, but maybe I can continue working in the future.
Transport accessibility is very easy to say here, facilitating or facilitating movement of a person. If a poor man cares for a taxi, his accessibility will not increase because he can not afford to rent. If the bus service is taken away by taking high car, then he will not be able to use the bus. This accessibility is a very important issue in the transportation system; Many countries are declaring it to be the right of each person. In many parts of the people, arranging for movement and movement of people; Especially the opportunities for work and education increase in multiples. So efforts are made to give accessibility to everyone in the society.
In the city of Khulna illegally battery Bike or Easy Bikes are helping, mainly to provide access to the lower and middle class, as well as employment. Now, the government should try to solve their problems and avoid problems (especially the environment and safety) by eliminating their bi-directional policies, how they can be integrated into the mainstream transport system.