Reducing traffic congestion
The Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that her government plans to construct elevated and underground railways, flyovers, orbital waterways and circular roads around the capital to ease traffic congestion and to solve the transport problem.
Understandably, this is a very ambitious and time consuming programme, some of which though based on various suggestions may not be implemented during the tenure of the present government. In this regard, a few suggestions are put forward here which can be implemented at a minimum possible time with the country's own resources and during the tenure of the government.
1. Circular water ways: Water way is the cheapest means of communication and as such should be given top priority. In the proposed waterway system, some difficulties are encountered because of some low height bridges constructed earlier because of which during high water level plying vessels cannot cross and during low water level loaded vessels cannot ply because of low depth of water in the river. This problem can be solved as follows.
(a) With modification of one end span of the concrete bridge with steel draw bridge which will open for river traffic and close for road traffic. Examples of such work are available in Rotterdam (Holland), Paris and Moscow. Steel parts can be fabricated locally.
(b) The problem of low water level can be solved either with dredging of the channel across the steel draw bridge and also protect the eroding bank to maintain a stable navigable channel round the year. The other alternative for this is to construct navigable locks at appropriate locations to retain monsoon water during low water stage to help uninterrupted movement of both passenger launches and also cargo vessels. Examples of such locks are available in many countries. The required steel gates can be manufactured locally.
(c) The government has already ordered that the river water should be kept clean of industrial effluents and garbage disposal. This should be strictly implemented.
(d) As desired by the government, beautification of the river banks should be ensured through construction of walkways and planting beautiful trees to attract both tourists and locals.
2.Railway: Railway is the cheapest communication means next to water way. So, this should be expanded and utilized through all possible means.
It will be appreciated if the government of Bangladesh considers the above suggestions seriously in the greater interest of the country.
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