The radio channel will transmit information about traffic congestion, road accidents, load distributions of roads and traffic rules and regulation.

The decision to set up the channel was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on May 2 with Information Secretary Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman in the chair.

High officials of the ministries concerned, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and other transport related organisations were present at the meeting.

Additional Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Betar Dilip Kumar Saha said the main objective of the channel is to help remove traffic problems.

Traffic policemen on duty will send information to control rooms to inform the studio at Bangladesh Betar. The information will be transmitted by the radio channel through a five-kilowatt FM transmitter under a process called Traffic Broadcasting Service.

Sources said the project will be run on a temporary basis as the government has sanctioned a little amount of money. The project which includes opening a traffic broadcasting service cell and procurement of instruments will cost at least Tk 2 crore.

When contacted, Information Secretary Dr Mahbubur Rahman told Star City that the project is supposed to start by next month. So far the finance ministry has given only Tk five lakh for the project, he added.

The May 2 meeting took several decisions about developing infrastructure and procuring equipment for the project. The channel will initially work in the capital and later cover the whole country, officials said.

They said the radio traffic channel is an excellent idea to ensure smooth traffic management and reduce accidents.