They said if the STP is implemented, it will increase cost, travel time, expenditure on infrastructure, pollution and accident.

The meeting titled 'Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan: Role of Media' was organised by Save Environment Movement at the National Press Club in the city.

The STP recommended three elevated expressways, which would cost a huge amount of $614 million, and would have adverse effect on transport system and environment, said Dr Mahbubul Bari, senior assistant manager of transport for London, while presenting the keynote paper.

He said STP findings and recommendations are inconsistent, and these are also not pro-poor and cost-effective.

" Though STP stresses the need to prepare strategic plan prioritising the pedestrians, the allocation for this sector is only 0.22 percent which is very negligible in comparison to total allocation. Besides, for circular waterway the allocation is only 1.11 percent and although 34 percent of people use non-motorised vehicle, it gets only 0.22 percent allocation," he said, adding that whereas the proposed allocation in STP for underground rail is 63 percent that could carry only eight percent people.

Dr Mahbubul said the pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles are environment friendly and they neither create congestion nor increase travel time.

So they need much attention while designing the traffic system, and the resource allocation should follow it, he added.

"It is the private cars that increase our travel time and cost," Dr Mahbubul said, drawing an example of city's Mirpur area where the speed of motorised vehicles has decreased 26 percent after banning the rickshaws.

Private cars on that route have increased three times creating traffic congestion and causing financial loss of Tk 70 crore, he added.

Convener of Save Environment Movement Abu Naser Khan said an integrated management system is needed for Bus Rapid Transits (BRT), non-motorised vehicles and pedestrians.

At the same time the existing rail transport system should be improved, he added.

The speakers said the flaws of the STP could be removed in the light of the findings of a research that await approval of the authorities concerned.

Prof Rokhsana Hafiz of Buet moderated the programme where Prof AQM Mahbub and Engineer Shahidullah also spoke.