Rickshaws clog city

Although many of the capital's main roads have been off-limits to rickshaws for many years to reduce traffic jam, the number of illegal rickshaws continues to rise alarmingly due to relaxed law enforcement.
A decade ago there were around 2.5 lakh illegal rickshaws in the capital -- which increased to around 6 lakhs a few years back. Now, Joint Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Barrister Mahbubur Rahman estimates there are no less than 10 lakh illegal rickshaws and rickshaw vans.
Consequently, the city roads -- including the 22 plus roads that are off-limits to rickshaws -- are increasingly becoming clogged with rickshaws. The rickshaws are seen sporadically invading high traffic and high speed roads like Airport Road -- while the rickshaw-pullers totally defy the ban on certain roads like Pantha Path.
This is hampering traffic flow, and increasing accident risks for passengers.
Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and traffic department officials say the number of rickshaws increased especially in the last two years with patronisation from ruling party backed labour organisations.
Rickshaw garage owners, who enjoy the patronisation, also get help from a section of corrupt DCC employees who supply them with fake number plates to commission brand new rickshaws on the city roads.
Without commenting on the political patronisation, DMP Joint Commissioner Rahman said yesterday, "A strong syndicate is realising around one crore taka from this ten lakh rickshaws. This syndicate is also backing the violent protest that took place today. We are now identifying the elements of this syndicate."
On the question whether rickshaws are operating on off-limits roads due to a relaxed attitude on the part of law enforcers, he said, "From now on we will strictly enforce the off-limits rules."
DCC, that handles rickshaw licenses, did not issue a single one since 1986. Till that time, it had issued licenses for 79,554 legal rickshaws, 7,807 rickshaw-vans, 26 rickshaws for personal use, 108 rickshaw-vans for personal use, 120 push carts, and 14 horse carts.
Ever since, DCC has remained nonchalant about the rise in the number of illegal rickshaws, and issuance of new fake licenses.
These non-motorised vehicles can be operated by anyone -- irrespective of their knowledge of general traffic rules or routes. Because of comparatively high return among menial jobs, pulling rickshaws is one of the most sought after job for poor people coming to Dhaka from rural areas across the country.
Additionally a huge number of non-motorised school vans with students on board ply different off-limits city roads, especially Mirpur Road, putting the students under serious risk of accident.
Additional Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board SM Saleh Uddin said due to a lack of control, the number of illegal rickshaws has been increasing.
He said it is tough for the government to rout out rickshaws without creating scope of alternative employment for the rickshaw-pullers, still the government gradually making the thoroughfares off-limits for rickshaws.
Saleh Uddin said the government will have to stick to around 1.5 lakh rickshaws in different pocket areas of the capital to reduce traffic congestion.
The average speed of motorised vehicles on the city roads is 20 kilometres per hour, but those are forced to run at the speed of 7 to 8 kmph due to plying of rickshaws on the roads, he said.
Md Ashiqur Rahman, superintendent engineer of DCC Traffic Engineering Division, said due to plying of rickshaws on thoroughfares, smooth traffic movement is hampered.
He said the automatic traffic signal lights cannot function properly due to rickshaws on the off-limits roads. All automatic signals are synchronised with the speed of motorised vehicles -- not with vehicles like rickshaws, he said.
Beginning from 2002, the government restricted rickshaw movement on many roads of the city including on Mirpur Road from Gabtoli to New Market; from Russel Square to Sonargaon Hotel; from Sonargaon Hotel to Moghabazar crossing; from Moghbazar to High Court crossing via Kakrail Mosque crossing; from Elephant Road to High Court crossing; from Shahbagh to Airport Road; from Ittefaq crossing to Bangabhaban; on Kamal Ataturk Avenue; from Mohakhali to Kakrail Mosque; from Golapshah Mazar to High Court via Bangabazar crossing; from Bailey Road to Minto Road; on Phoenix Road; from Shahbagh to High Court crossing; and on Abdul Gani Road.
DMP since Monday made 8 more link roads off-limits to rickshaws, which are from Malibagh to Mouchak; from Moghbazar to Bangla Motor; from Nilkhet to New Market; from Matshya Baban to Shilpakala Academy; on Khamarbari Road; from Rajmoni Cinema Hall to Rajashya Bhaban; from Moghbazar to Kamalapur; and from Doyel Chattar to High Court.