Flaw in feasibility study frustrates projects

In its simplest outline, a feasibility study represents an explanation of a problem or opportunity to be studied, an analysis of the current mode of operation, a definition of requirements, an evaluation of alternatives, and an agreed upon course of action. As such, the activities for preparing a feasibility study are generic in nature and can be applied to any type of project. For several years, there has been a singular focus to solve the city's nagging traffic congestion. Following that many projects have been taken up such as: banning rickshaws in some roads, sometimes providing a narrow lane for rickshaws. The results, almost astonishingly, are negative. Much attention has been paid to ban rickshaws even though this mode caters to the need of the majority of the people. The fact is that most of the city dwellers except the car owners use rickshaws. Even car owners use rickshaws some times. Is there any available reliable data on: how many vehicles are passing a route; what is the exact extent of traffic induced delay in a particular route; what is the exact contribution of rickshaws and private transports in congestion in that route; how many vehicles are plying on roads, including motorised and non motorised vehicles; what percent of passengers is catered to by different modes; what is the comparative analysis between personal transport vs. rickshaws in terms of congestion, passengers catered and space occupied; what percentage of the total commuters are pedestrian? The bus-stand at Mohakhali (known as Tangail bus-stand), after construction, has created more jam instead of reducing it. Arbitrary decision like this is making the city unlivable day by day. Whatever we do, is based on just a single aspect of a particular problem and other aspects are overlooked. Thus nothing seems to work in Dhaka. Earlier, about a hundred Volvo buses were procured at a cost of about Tk 1.0 billion to lessen the city's congestion but most of the buses are now out of order due to lack of proper maintenance. Everyday, the number of passengers is increasing but public transportation has not been given due importance. Air conditioned bus service from Tongi to Azimpur is also at the brink of closure. Again, nobody considered the cases of footpaths and road safety. Occupation of footpaths has made it really difficult for the pedestrians to walk and this has become even worse due to the absence of over-bridge and under-pass. Moreover, due attention has not been paid to the unsafe level crossings despite a number of accidents in the recent past. As a part of reactivating the capital's circular water route and lessen the pressure on city's transportation, the government launched waterbuses last year. But after the launching the water service, one of the two waterbuses went out of order and the condition of the other is also not satisfactory. The waterbuses, both having capacity of 33 passengers, were introduced for round trips every two hours but with the only one waterbus in service it cannot serve the purpose. A demand and supply gap was there from the beginning. Despite growing demand of the passengers, the number of waterbus has not been increased. Thus, various initiatives taken by the government fail due to lack of proper planning or proper monitoring. But it could have been a comfortable mode of transport for the passengers. According to newspaper reports, this service is already facing financial loss. What sort of study was conducted before introducing the water buses? Thus the feasibility studies we undertake are not serving the purpose when the projects come to the operational stage. A huge gap between the forecast and the performance is noticed. Without a proper integrated demand-and-supply management approach, it is highly unlikely that initiatives taken by the authorities will solve the transport problems of Dhaka City. Again, arbitrary decision will only waste public money. That's why to ensure road safety and reduce congestion considering the ever growing population of the mega-city Dhaka, all aspects of a particular projects or initiatives should be taken into consideration. The writer can be reached at e-mail shafiqul0032@yahoo.com