The transportation system in the capital city is below the standard with poor state of accessibility as well as quality and reliability on public transports, according to a study.
Overall score of Dhaka's transportation system in the study is 49.21 per cent.
However, it found better state of fatalities - scoring only 1.64 person per 100,000.
The study findings were shared during a two-day international workshop of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) conducted the study based on secondary data, field visits and interviews, for introducing an index - Sustainable Urban Transportation Index (SUTI) - for the capital.
UNESCAP, with support of DTCA and Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB), is working to introduce the index for assessing Dhaka's transportation system standard in every two years.
The workshop has been organised to build the capacity of all the concerned to introduce SUTI as well as to share various aspects of its 10 indicators on the basis of experiences of the countries where it is being practiced.
Representatives from different cities shared their experience on the first day of the workshop.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Nazrul Islam inaugurated the workshop as the chief guest, and RHD Chief Engineer Ibne Alam Hasan was present as the special guest.
Economic Affairs Officer of UNESCAP Transport Division Madan B Regmi, and Executive Director of DTCA Khandakar Rakibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
The UNESCAP official said SUTI has been introduced to assess the implementing countries' level for achieving the goal-11.2 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While presenting the study on Dhaka, RHD Superintendent Engineer Noor-e-Alam said the city's score in terms of policy formulation was eight out of 16 for covering multimodal transportation system, pedestrian movement and public transports.
Dhaka's score in investment is impressive following the government's huge investment in mass transit system development.
But the study could not find any information from the private sector on the investment and operational cost to assess the standard.
He further said the city's position in modal share of active and public transports is impressive with scoring 88 per cent out of 90.
Though the SUTI indicators could not assess the state of congestion, the score of public transport quality and reliability is 38 per cent, which is close to minimum level, Mr Alam noted.
The RHD engineer also said the study used data mainly from Revised Strategic Transport Plan, Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study, Accident Research Institute, Department of Environment, and from field level by interviewing pedestrians and bus operators.
Although the study could not get any data from the private bus operators of their earning or about the private sector investment and profit, it scored Dhaka 74, which is below the standard, he added.
SUTI has been prepared on 10 indicators, including transport plans covering public transport, intermodal facilities and infrastructure for active modes; convenient access to public transport service; and public transport quality and reliability;
It also evaluated traffic fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants; affordability - travel costs as part of income; operational costs of public transport system; investment in public transportation systems; air quality and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
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