Knowing that this subject was much too important to be kept under the rug, I am glad to see letters and articles on the subject reappear in the DS after a gap of nearly two months-- MZ Haider's article on 20 Aug, Sohel Ahmed's on 27 Aug. and Asadullah Khan's article on 30 Aug. We are pleased to read that the DMP has an action plan to streamline traffic, but filled with consternation at the concessions given by the NBR to car importers and lo and behold, a 'tiny' sum of $ 5.52 billion (Taka 40,000 crores) to be spent on STP over 20 years to make traffic congestion history!!!
Having exhaustively written on the subject in 21 previous letters over the last one year, I will confine myself to just a few remarks. Mr. Haider rightly noted that scuttling rickshaws from VIP roads was of no avail. Also that private cars occupy 80% of the roads but transport 10% people (actually it is nearer 2% if the number of empty/half-empty cars on the road is monitored). Mr. Sohel has got a valid point Dhaka has only 7% road area, instead of the standard 25-30%. Mr Asadullah's article did not offer solutions, but he did rickshaws a disservice by decrying 'their influx in huge numbers and covering 21.9 sq. ft space per person as against a third by bus passengers.
He could have been more circumspect by comparing Dhaka's 2.5-3 lakh rickshaws (each occupying 30 sq. ft) and carrying 40-50 lakh passengers every day to 7.5 -10 lakh motor vehicles (half of them private cars ) carrying less than 2 lakh people. Rickshaw earnings add approx Tk.10 crore every day to the GDP and provide livelihood to another 20-25 lakh people. How much fuel, spares and accessories the private cars burn, and their cost in foreign exchange, pollution and time loss, I leave to your imagination.
The DMP's ambitious action plans are praiseworthy but no details are given. Will the rod further descend heavily on the heads of the poor rickshawalas, buses, tempos etc and those who use them? If this force supposedly fighting for the public weal cannot even convince the arrogant CNGs to freely take passengers on meter, what can we expect from them when they are tasked to take action on the illegally parked cars on roads?
For some short-term revenue, the NBR has reduced duties, relaxed restrictions on car engine-sizes and depreciation. Result thousands of gas guzzling monsters (GGMs) and overpriced junked cars will further clog the roads soon.
We should now get ready for a new round of the 'Tragedy Circus' (Tamasha) set to start soon. In the meantime, will someone tell me how this 75 year old can get home today and come to office tomorrow - rickshaw or do I have to walk while fasting?