Traffic congestion in the city has become a menace causing untold suffering to people. Concerned authorities have been observed to be taking some measures, but ironically, these measures are failing and creating more problems.

Why do we have traffic congestion? There are many reasons and cause, but the best known, perhaps, is that though oads haven't increased in mileage and width, with some exceptions, both motorised and non-motorised vehicles have increased manifold. For instance, the induction of around six hundred taxi cabs into the city transport system sometime back slightly eased the movement of some middle-income people, but undoubtedly added to road congestion.

To help out the elite, some VIP roads have been sealed off for non-motorised vehicles, like rickshaw, vans etc. This arrangement has caused two-fold misery to ordinary people who neither own a car nor can hire a cab or an auto-rickshaw. They have to depend on public buses that often are unavailable at their designated stops. Sometimes, they have to walk a long distance to the stop, and to their dismay, the bus stops are generally over-crowded. Before the ban, they hired a rickshaw, went to the stop or to the desired destination. In another scenario of inconvenience, these affected rickshaws have steered into other non-VIP roads that are already crowded, further crowding these roads. Consequently, the banning of rickshaw from the VIP roads has not proved a boon for many.

Traffic regulations framed during the colonial days are still in vogue. These need to be updated. Some modifications were made, but these were inadequate. So, modifications to suit the present need are urgently required. Also, all concerned must then follow regulations that need to be modified rigidly so that the traffic congestion is eased.

Some over-bridges/foot-bridges and under-passes have been constructed. By and large these are inadequate. There has to be more. The problem is, they are not used properly sometimes, but rather, abused. Some foot-bridges/over-bridges remain abandoned while others are sparingly used. The abandoned ones are frequented by those who use them as urinals or toilets, thereby defeating the purpose for which these were built. The main reason for abuse is that no one cares for their maintenance. At least, no one is seen. It is incomprehensible -- why when such structures are built with millions of taka can a small amount not be spared for its upkeep? This action will have two-fold benefits -- on the one hand, generating employment for some, and on the other, educating and obligating people to use them, if necessary, on the pain of imposing penal measures like small fines for violation/s. The structures can then be cost-effective, in terms of public interest, social benefit and goal achievement.

For indifference, lack of awareness etc. on the part of the people who use transport and also, in some cases, for lack of parking spaces, vehicles are parked on main road lanes which further narrows the already narrow roads of the city and causes traffic jam.

Motor vehicles seem to never get old in Bangladesh. When they outlive their normal condition, they are hardly condemned and declared unfit for plying on the roads. Even if they are removed, they are repurchased at throwaway prices, renovated at places like Dholai-khal in makeshift garages, and put back on the roads in a complete different form, like half-trucks, carriers etc. These vintage vehicles sometimes fail and stop right in the middle of the road causing traffic congestion.

Not only pavements, particularly in busy city areas, but also roads are encroached by hawkers and peddlers. In such situations, these roads and streets turn into mini markets restricting pedestrian movement, let alone vehicular movement. Traffic congestion becomes inevitable, and surprisingly, under the nose of law enforcement agencies.

At times VVIP visits to a place create traffic jam because such places are sealed off for vehicles that then crowd other streets.

Lastly, traffic jam is also caused because of political and agitation programmes either by creating blockades or staging rallies/processions which sometimes are too long and require time to complete. Vehicles have to remain stranded until rallies/processions are over.

As said before, many causes exist but only a few have been described here. This gloomy picture may haunt the minds of average people as to what can be done to ease the messy situation. The solution lies in taking long and short-term measures.

Long-term measures need a lot of planning, resources etc., some of which the government appears to have undertaken. Yet, they are time consuming and people may not like to wait that long. Hence, short-term measures, if taken earnestly, may ease the congestion problem to some extent. Many say that in any problematic situation, introducing a proper management system, at almost very little to no cost, can make a 10-20 percent improvement. If the causes of traffic jam, as listed above, are carefully looked into and appropriate actions taken, then, perhaps, the problem may be minimised to a reasonable extent. As already stated, if existing traffic laws pending modification are not followed rigidly by all concerned, then undoubtedly, it won't ease traffic jam.

Abu Imran is a former government official.