More mega projects on cards to reduce traffic jam in city

The Ministry of Communication (MoC) has prepared a list of mega projects mostly on introducing mass transport system to be implemented as Vision 2021 aiming at reducing severe traffic jam in the mega city of Dhaka.

Sources said though mass rapid transit (MRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) mega projects are yet to see light and even will take beyond 2021 to be completed, the ministry has prepared the list with more such projects to start groundwork of those from now.

"We have to take preparation for these highly technical projects from now on to make Vision 2021 successful," said an official of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).

The mega projects mostly focus on setting up of the MRT and BRT line as mentioned in the Strategic Transport Plan (STP), the 20-year transport policy for the greater Dhaka city.

However, sources said implementation of many MRT and BRT lines would not now be possible due to massive deviation from the STP guided projects.

Apart from the MRT and the BRT, some mega projects are also under implementation which the MoC has planned to carry out as the Vision 2021. Bus sector reform and Intelligent Transport System are also two other mega projects to be taken as the Vision 2021.

The STP has suggested implementation of six mass transport systems-three MRT and three BRT line-in the capital city to enable thousands of commuters of north-south, east-west and circular routes to cross different corridors within a few minutes.

But due to erection of different structures, mostly flyovers beyond the STP plan, option of many transport related projects has now become less feasible to be implemented, experts said.

Admitting the fact, the DTCA and the MoC officials said to remove those obstacles, they have already taken steps to revise the STP so that the best possible solutions to implement the new mega projects are found.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is assisting the MRT line 6 assuring highest amount of funding for the first MRT project, has also started STP revision to make the city communicable in the coming years.

The DTCA official said the STP revision will take two years to be completed where earlier proposed BRT and MRT lines are also being reviewed to make those projects successful.

The MoC has now been implementing the MRT line 6 and two BRT projects to introduce the mass transport system in the city. Of these projects, MRT and one BRT were the STP suggested projects, but another BRT is being implemented with the Asian Development Bank-suggested guideline.