The pain of travelling in Dhaka is nothing new for anyone. Apart from regular traffic congestion, there is a constant worry about safety and security for commuters. The loss of arm due to road rage and subsequent death of the orphaned college student Rajib Hossain created quite a stir among the common people. But this is just one instance of the many mishaps occurring on the roads of Dhaka. School-going children, women and the elderly people suffer the most as there are numerous complaints of eve-teasing as well as recent incidents of harassment of female passengers on buses. A recent study by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity also found that 87 per cent buses and minibuses plying on the roads of the capital city are violating traffic rules.
Unfortunately Dhaka does not have any effective road transport coordination system yet. Various engineering and enforcement measures are being taken by different agencies at their whims, often not seen anywhere in the world, resulting in worse outcomes. Although delayed, the implementation of strategic transportation plan (STP) through the construction of MRT Line- 6 (Metro rail transit system from Uttara to Motijheel) and BRT Line- 3 (Bus rapid transit system from Gazipur to Airport) may give some relief to the commuters. But it is still uncertain how the implementation of these two systems will improve the situations of commuters making daily trips from their homes to different destinations of Dhaka. Commuters cannot have a decent trip if they have to rely on the existing rickshaws, tempos or bus systems. Also, there will be more hurdles at the MRT/BRT stations in the form of transit traffic, hawkers, muggers, vagrants and so on. As a result, many car owners would not give up the road causing little impact by the MRT/BRT corridors. This identifies the limitation of the MRT/BRT projects.
The mega STP projects need to consider the improvement of local transit to ensure quality trips for most commuters from a holistic transport improvement perspective. There is little scope for improvement of the conventional bus, tempos or rickshaw systems within a reasonable time frame. Despite the recent initiative taken by the city corporations for improving the walkways, it is unlikely that Dhaka city dwellers will find them fit for walking soon as they will eventually be encroached by hawkers, construction materials, illegal parking, tea stalls and vagrants. So, we need to find an innovative solution that can be implementable from engineering and economic viewpoints.
Autonomous vehicle is going to be a reality very soon with cities around the world competing with each other to welcome the fleets. After a series of trial runs in big cities of Europe, America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, regional cities are now inviting automakers for trials of driverless shuttle buses. This is helping them plan future infrastructure projects as well as introduce locals to the future mode of transport. At least, five different companies are now rushing with their shuttles to hit the roads. From these, two French start-ups Navya and EasyMile SAS have made the most progress. The driverless shuttles run on electric charged batteries which has range of upto 14 hours. They operate on existing road infrastructure with no additional features at speed levels of up to 45 km/hr carrying up to 15 passengers. The shuttles are run by software and make no pollution or noise. They also have access ramp for mobility-challenged passengers and also scope for allowing attendance.
These autonomous shuttles can be considered as a great way forward for local transport in Dhaka and elsewhere. Primarily, local shuttle ways can be constructed as connectors for the MRT/BRT lines. The shuttles are only two metres wide and autonomous operation on a short loop makes them safe for plying on a narrow path. For example, a shuttle way from MRT station at Mirpur-10 to Gabtali bus terminal can be constructed along the Mirpur road with two or three stations in between. Because of the smaller size and load of the shuttles, road way, turning loop and stations are unlikely to require expensive designs or spaces. It would be able to carry up to 5,000 passengers per hour both ways with efficient management. As a result, this can be a relief for the BRT/MRT commuters or the local users with faster, cleaner, safer and more secure trips. The construction of the light elevated way is unlikely to reduce the road space underneath as the thin support piers can be accommodated conveniently within the existing median in most places, thus helping improved movement of the road vehicles as well in less demand. Also, the relatively narrow elevated ways would not restrict the sky view as the wide flyovers do elsewhere, rather beautification of the street can be possible with street arts, hanging plants and other decoration on both sides of the shuttle ways. The shuttle ways can also be constructed at grade with effective control of the intersections. The cost of the shuttle ways will be significantly cheaper when compared with MRT/BRT lines and may be managed through variation of the existing projects. Otherwise, they can be procured separately under Public-Private partnership model. In addition, pilot local shuttle ways can be constructed in Dhaka University campus, Dhaka Cantonment, Baridhara diplomatic zone and similar areas. Successful implementation of the pilot projects may help quick transformation of the Dhaka transport by replacing rickshaws with many local loops of autonomous shuttles.
The challenges to improving Dhaka transport are less of engineering than cultural in nature. The successful introduction of autonomous shuttles can open the scope for introduction of autonomous buses in future along the major routes. Therefore, gradual implementation of all the MRT/BRT lines, autonomous bus service, autonomous shuttles and shared taxi services within the next two decades can promise a quality life in Dhaka in 2041, by subtly addressing the appalling behavioural problems of the road operators as well as the users.
Dr. Shafiq Alam is a road infrastructure specialist working in Australia.
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