Traffic movement coming apart at the seams
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Syed Jamaluddin
It is said that with 250-300 kilometres of roads, Dhaka has room for 1,50,000 vehicles. But it has to accommodate 1 million vehicles resulting in serious traffic congestion.
A director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority said that on average 180 new vehicles step into the city streets every day. A megacity like Dhaka should have 25 per cent of its size dedicated to roads. But in reality only 8 per cent is claimed by roads.
Of the total city size, 45 per cent is occupied by residential establishments, 15 per cent by mills, factories and shopping malls, 20 per cent by administrative and academic establishments and 12 per cent is used for other purposes. To make things even worse, there is an acute shortage of traffic personnel. Apart from manpower shortage, there is acute transport crisis.
It is also said that traffic situation worsens for lack of coordination among different government and autonomous bodies responsible for managing vehicles and their movement in the city. Dhaka city corporation issues licence for rickshaws but it does little to seize illegal rickshaws. Similarly, BRTA hardly acts against illegal and unfit vehicles and drivers with false licences. There is accusation of corruption against BRTA personnel in dealing with cases of fitness, registration, transfer of ownership of vehicles and so on.
The government is set to import large number of buses to ease the transport system in the city by replacing unfit buses gradually. Launching the new buses will create more traffic congestion unless unfit buses are withdrawn. New buses must be introduced in a planned manner to improve the situation.
It is funny that Dhaka Metropolitan Police traffic department seized around 13,000 unfit vehicles from August 2009 to January 2010 but they had to release around 11,000 vehicles for lack of alternative transportation and dumping ground. It is not unlikely that financial transactions may be involved in such activities.
The above scenario shows that there are already too many cars in the roads and there is hardly any scope for more cars. But we cannot sit idle and enjoy the traffic jam which is the most dreadful thing that haunts the inhabitants of the capital city. The question is for how long the people will be able to bear it. Their patience has reached the limit.
The media through its editorials, columns, articles and talk shows have tried to bring home the issue to the concerned authorities but to no effect. Dhaka Metropolitan authority seems to have run out of ideas in easing the traffic congestion. The government seems to be quiet and content after ordering different working hours for schools and offices and alternative weekly holidays for shopkeepers.
In a regular cabinet meeting, Prime Minister reportedly expressed her disappointment over the failure of authorities in improving the traffic congestion and held the home and communication ministers responsible for this. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister has to intervene in all issues of public inconvenience. If she remains bogged down with such issues as day to day city traffic management, how will she attend to much more important issues of national and international concern?
The causes for the city's traffic congestion are well known. The remedies are also not unknown. Time and again, experts and professionals came up with valuable suggestions to deal with the situation but nobody listened to them. What is missing is the will to execute the implementable decisions. Long term solutions will not be discussed here. Once again some practical short term measures will be brought to the notice of the authorities for urgent action.
It is not understood why unfit and time barred vehicles are not withdrawn immediately from the roads. Such vehicles have to be withdrawn on a regular basis. Absence of dumping ground for keeping the seized vehicles is a lame excuse. Alternative transport will become available for the users. There should be no compromise on the withdrawal of unfit vehicles. This has to be given top priority.
Buses coming from outside Dhaka must stop at the city terminals and should not enter the city. These buses will go back to the point of origin with passengers from the terminals. This is done in other countries. If this is done, city will be relieved of a great hazard. More space will be available. Commuter buses will be available to transport the passengers within the city. An efficient and reliable taxi cab service is to be pressed into service to allow people to get a taxi at their door step on call. This system is working in Kolkata. But this is not working in Dhaka. Something needs to be done about this. It is most unfortunate that we cannot even run an effective cab service in Dhaka.
It is possible to construct flyovers in few months time. Decision has to be taken to do so in the next six months. If necessary, Thai builders may be invited to do the job. We cannot waste any more time to add a few flyovers to at least partially remove congestion. Sufficient number of foot-over bridges may be provided for the pedestrians so that they do not walk in the streets and block roads.
Rickshaws have to be phased out gradually. Dhaka city corporation should immediately stop issue of new rickshaw licences. Rickshaws should be encouraged to ply outside Dhaka. Previous governments did withdraw rickshaws from some of the roads. This government may try this in selected roads. If necessary, rickshaws may be given at subsidised rate to those who are willing to ply outside Dhaka. Rickshwas may also be given free in special cases. This will also reduce the influx of people to Dhaka.
Existing roads, lanes and by lanes may be repaired for smooth operation of transports. Under passes may be built where necessary. Link roads may be constructed in appropriate places.
Apart from government officials, our elected representatives have important role to play in the implementation of the above measures. They should come forward enthusiastically to make a contribution in easing traffic congestion in the city. This will be a good area for executing their election manifesto of charter of change. Private sector may also be associated with this campaign. We can expect some results from public-private partnership.
The writer is an economist and columnist. Jamal Syed
It is said that with 250-300 kilometres of roads, Dhaka has room for 1,50,000 vehicles. But it has to accommodate 1 million vehicles resulting in serious traffic congestion.
A director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority said that on average 180 new vehicles step into the city streets every day. A megacity like Dhaka should have 25 per cent of its size dedicated to roads. But in reality only 8 per cent is claimed by roads.
Of the total city size, 45 per cent is occupied by residential establishments, 15 per cent by mills, factories and shopping malls, 20 per cent by administrative and academic establishments and 12 per cent is used for other purposes. To make things even worse, there is an acute shortage of traffic personnel. Apart from manpower shortage, there is acute transport crisis.
It is also said that traffic situation worsens for lack of coordination among different government and autonomous bodies responsible for managing vehicles and their movement in the city. Dhaka city corporation issues licence for rickshaws but it does little to seize illegal rickshaws. Similarly, BRTA hardly acts against illegal and unfit vehicles and drivers with false licences. There is accusation of corruption against BRTA personnel in dealing with cases of fitness, registration, transfer of ownership of vehicles and so on.
The government is set to import large number of buses to ease the transport system in the city by replacing unfit buses gradually. Launching the new buses will create more traffic congestion unless unfit buses are withdrawn. New buses must be introduced in a planned manner to improve the situation.
It is funny that Dhaka Metropolitan Police traffic department seized around 13,000 unfit vehicles from August 2009 to January 2010 but they had to release around 11,000 vehicles for lack of alternative transportation and dumping ground. It is not unlikely that financial transactions may be involved in such activities.
The above scenario shows that there are already too many cars in the roads and there is hardly any scope for more cars. But we cannot sit idle and enjoy the traffic jam which is the most dreadful thing that haunts the inhabitants of the capital city. The question is for how long the people will be able to bear it. Their patience has reached the limit.
The media through its editorials, columns, articles and talk shows have tried to bring home the issue to the concerned authorities but to no effect. Dhaka Metropolitan authority seems to have run out of ideas in easing the traffic congestion. The government seems to be quiet and content after ordering different working hours for schools and offices and alternative weekly holidays for shopkeepers.
In a regular cabinet meeting, Prime Minister reportedly expressed her disappointment over the failure of authorities in improving the traffic congestion and held the home and communication ministers responsible for this. It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister has to intervene in all issues of public inconvenience. If she remains bogged down with such issues as day to day city traffic management, how will she attend to much more important issues of national and international concern?
The causes for the city's traffic congestion are well known. The remedies are also not unknown. Time and again, experts and professionals came up with valuable suggestions to deal with the situation but nobody listened to them. What is missing is the will to execute the implementable decisions. Long term solutions will not be discussed here. Once again some practical short term measures will be brought to the notice of the authorities for urgent action.
It is not understood why unfit and time barred vehicles are not withdrawn immediately from the roads. Such vehicles have to be withdrawn on a regular basis. Absence of dumping ground for keeping the seized vehicles is a lame excuse. Alternative transport will become available for the users. There should be no compromise on the withdrawal of unfit vehicles. This has to be given top priority.
Buses coming from outside Dhaka must stop at the city terminals and should not enter the city. These buses will go back to the point of origin with passengers from the terminals. This is done in other countries. If this is done, city will be relieved of a great hazard. More space will be available. Commuter buses will be available to transport the passengers within the city. An efficient and reliable taxi cab service is to be pressed into service to allow people to get a taxi at their door step on call. This system is working in Kolkata. But this is not working in Dhaka. Something needs to be done about this. It is most unfortunate that we cannot even run an effective cab service in Dhaka.
It is possible to construct flyovers in few months time. Decision has to be taken to do so in the next six months. If necessary, Thai builders may be invited to do the job. We cannot waste any more time to add a few flyovers to at least partially remove congestion. Sufficient number of foot-over bridges may be provided for the pedestrians so that they do not walk in the streets and block roads.
Rickshaws have to be phased out gradually. Dhaka city corporation should immediately stop issue of new rickshaw licences. Rickshaws should be encouraged to ply outside Dhaka. Previous governments did withdraw rickshaws from some of the roads. This government may try this in selected roads. If necessary, rickshaws may be given at subsidised rate to those who are willing to ply outside Dhaka. Rickshwas may also be given free in special cases. This will also reduce the influx of people to Dhaka.
Existing roads, lanes and by lanes may be repaired for smooth operation of transports. Under passes may be built where necessary. Link roads may be constructed in appropriate places.
Apart from government officials, our elected representatives have important role to play in the implementation of the above measures. They should come forward enthusiastically to make a contribution in easing traffic congestion in the city. This will be a good area for executing their election manifesto of charter of change. Private sector may also be associated with this campaign. We can expect some results from public-private partnership.
The writer is an economist and columnist. Jamal Syed