National, regional and district-level highways across the country will be brought under CCTV surveillance in phases to improve road safety and discipline, Road Transport, Rail and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said on Monday.

“We are planning to bring national highways under CCTV coverage on a priority basis. Later, regional highways and then district highways will be covered gradually,” Shaikh Rabiul said, while briefing journalists after the fifth session of this year's Deputy Commissioners’ Conference. Day two of this important annual event that serves as a prolonged, comprehensive brainstorming was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

The session was attended by officials from the Road Transport and Highways Division, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Shipping.

Addressing traffic discipline on highways, he said efforts are underway to stop the movement of three-wheelers on major roads, but enforcement remains challenging.

Three-wheelers still find their way onto highways, which makes full control difficult. However, the situation has improved compared to earlier times, he said, adding that steps are being taken to gradually regulate their movement.

The minister also said road expansion demands in Bangladesh are significant, but financial constraints remain a major challenge.

In the last two months alone, proposals submitted by MPs for road widening projects would require around Tk 3 lakh crore. But the budget allocation is far lower, around Tk 40,000 crore, he said.

He stressed the need for prioritisation and transparency in project implementation.

“We must work based on priority. The government is committed to implementing projects transparently, impartially and based on necessity,” he added.

The minister also raised concerns over the installation of speed breakers without proper assessment.

“In many cases, speed breakers are being installed unnecessarily and without considering actual requirements,” he said.