Dhaka is the slowest city in the world while the fastest city on the speed index is Flint in the US state of Michigan, according to a US-based private non-profit research organisation's findings. The study was done by the National Bureau of Economic Research which covered 1,200 cities in 152 countries. A report published by the World Bank in 2017 also says that the speed of vehicles in Dhaka city was seven kilometres per hour. Many think that the average speed of vehicles in the capital city is equal to the walking speed of people. Although the government has built various flyovers and elevated expressways in Dhaka to resolve this problem, those have created more traffic congestions.
The city has a total of seven flyovers and one elevated expressway. But they have failed to mitigate the problem of traffic jam. Take the case of Moghbazar flyover. The road below is so narrow that it cannot accommodate the entire traffic coming down from the flyover. In many countries in the world, elevated roads are constructed to bypass a city rather than land within a city. Dhaka elevated expressway does not seem to serve that purpose. Elevated expressways or flyovers can never be a complete solution to traffic gridlock in cities like Dhaka as they increase congestion at landing points. The benefits of having an expressway cannot be fully realised unless we widen its landing areas. Before constructing any elevated road in the future, building wider landing spaces should be taken into consideration. The toll collection system should also be upgraded and made automatic.
As a result of unplanned urbanisation, illegal encroachment, filling of rivers and canals, a lack of sewer system, well-planned waste disposal system, Dhaka city residents often face water logging even due to a little rain. Recently, several areas of Dhaka such as New Market, Mirpur and Savar went under water due to continuous rain for several days. Therefore, our policymakers must understand that Dhaka city requires a comprehensive master plan and its strict implementation so that this beautiful city becomes more liveable, greener and cleaner.
Hamida Rahman,
Student of University of Dhaka,
hamidarhafcha@gmail.com