An initiative has been made to formulate a master plan for a mass transit system in Chattogram city that is also in the grip of gridlock like Dhaka city.
Officials said road transport and bridges ministry sat with all stakeholders recently to get their opinions on a proposed metro rail in the port city.
However, they said the decision to formulate a transport master plan first was made to get an overall scenario of transport needs and necessary integration with the ongoing development work.
The meeting, attended by representatives from different agencies like Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), requested the ministry to take necessary measures to this end.
"As there is no such transport master plan by any government agencies like CCC and CDA, the decision was made to have a plan after necessary study," said an official.
The transport master plan like the strategic transport plan taken for Dhaka city will guide the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to relieve traffic jam, he added.
But sources said CCC and CDA have separate transport plans which were formulated with inadequate study and lack of integration with different development plans.
The ministry is now considering transforming the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) into a national authority to conduct a study for the master plan in Chattogram, they added.
The DTCA has conducted studies to find corridors for mass rapid transit and bus rapid transit in the city through the strategic transport plan since 2005.
DTCA executive director Rakibur Rahman said they have already placed a proposal to the ministry to prepare a master plan and find development partners for funds and technical support.
However, sources said the DTCA, responsible for Dhaka city's transport planning and study, will have to be converted to an urban transport authority to do a study of Chattogram city.
smunima@yahoo.com