Transport expert Professor M Shamsul Haque called on Wednesday for engaging professionals in resolving the transportation problem in the city.
"A jumpstart is needed … overhauling is necessary with due attention paid to the transport sector," he said.
He urged the government to attach the due amount of priority to the sector as traditional thought and simple thinking by non-professionals cannot resolve the city traffic problems.
He also called for forming a unitary authority covering related areas including land use, the modes of transport, roads, etc.
The professor at the Civil Engineering Department of BUET made the comments while presenting a keynote paper at a workshop on 'Limiting private cars: problems and solution' in the city on Wednesday.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) organised the workshop attended by urban experts , town planners and representatives of government agencies. DTCA Executive Director Khandakar Rakibur Rahman presided over it.
Dr Shamsul Haque said the government needed to take some 'unpopular' decisions in the transport sector, like those taken in the power sector by suspending new power connections for two years, to ease the traffic congestions in the city.
He also suggested framing of a transport policy by a professional body like the monetary policy of the central bank taking into account the demand and supply of transport including private cars, bicycles and motorbikes.
'Only professionals can have farsightedness …can view far from the present' he said, referring to the impact of so many flyovers, allowing uncontrolled import of private cars and other vehicles polluting environment, construction of towers and multi-storied buildings without any impact assessment.
He also recommended measures like appointment of a transport adviser to the Prime Minister with technical knowledge about how to solve the nagging problems.
From studies, the BUET professor showed that private cars occupied 29 per cent space of the streets taking only five per cent passengers. But only five per cent of the private cars move while the rest of them remain parked occupying busy roads most of the time.
Dr Shamsul Haque said urged the government to take measures to reduce private cars. Soft car loan facilities are against the government's policy, he added.
Professor Dr Sarwar Jahan said professionals can come up with a sustainable solution to the transportation problems. Many non-traditional practices like prioritising walking, converting car lanes into walkways and allowing double-deckers are now providing a sustainable solution to congestions in many cities of the world.
Professor Nazrul Islam said dependence on private cars is declining with introduction of latest public transport. Besides, school zoning and shopping at a walking distance must be included in the transport plan, he observed.
He urged all concerned including Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakhya to take decisions on reducing dependence on private cars and creating scope of walking for commuters.
Integrated transport expert Mahbubul Haq Bari said non-motorised vehicles can help limit the number of private cars.
Among others, Architect Salma A Safi said without viewing it from professional perspective, the metro rail, BRT and bus route franchises cannot resolve the problems.
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