For effective traffic management
AGAINST the backdrop of horrendous traffic congestions, what the suffering citizens want to see now is strict implementation of existing rules and regulations to bring discipline on the city roads. There is obvious lack of effective traffic management, which is causing congestions lasting hours together in the capital, every day from dawn to late evening, thereby making life and living next to impossible. The rush of vehicles that turns the roads into veritable traps for commuters also results in other fallouts, such as loss of valuable fuel and that of man-hours. Surprisingly, it has been going on for years together but no relevant agency came forward to stop the slide.
In a roundtable titled "Making Dhaka Liveable: Focusing on Transport Problem," held at The Daily Star premises on Saturday, experts offered some concrete suggestions aimed at solving the problem through ensuring sound traffic management. They laid emphasis on mass rapid traffic (MRT) and bus rapid transport (BRT) to tackle the crisis and increase mobility of people. Creating better walkways is a good option that could be used by the citizens instead of using a vehicle to travel short distance. A strict parking policy will have to be implemented alongside creation of new parking spaces.
The need for a unified traffic management policy, both short-term and long-term, with the increasing involvement of public transports was one among the many recommendations we believe should be given serious consideration. There is no denying that increasing the number of public transports like large buses would help take many dilapidated minibuses and old private transports off the roads. A rough estimate says that a double-decker bus can replace about fifty rickshaws or three minibuses. But, as for availability of roads, the seminar revealed that only 250km out of 2,200km in Dhaka is suitable for large-scale bus operation. This clearly indicates that the roads of the capital need to be made ready for smooth operation of large public transports. The other points that deserve merit are decentralisation of the administration to reduce the population pressure on the capital; and relocation of industrial units and garment factories outside the city.
With the expert prediction that Dhaka will be the sixth most populous city in the world by 2010 and second by 2015, it would be quite difficult to keep it liveable unless the suggestions are taken seriously and implemented with due earnestness. A great deal has been said already about the flaws in our traffic management and we believe now is the time to translate words into action.
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