Lack of coordination between agencies responsible for poor traffic system: Khoka

Lack of coordination between agencies concerned is the main reason behind the miserable condition of traffic system in the capital, said Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka yesterday.
"The system of keeping various agencies involved in the city's traffic management must be abolished," Khoka said at a workshop on 'Traffic Congestion in Dhaka City: An impediment to Prosperity' at the DCC.
Traffic Engineering Department of DCC and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) jointly organised the workshop.
An integrated body should be formed to implement the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for resolving the problem of traffic congestion in Dhaka city, he said.
Khoka said the traffic police in the capital must work under the DCC so that they can function effectively.
The DCC mayor also criticised the ongoing Hatirjheel development project terming it a 'waste of public money'. Instead, the government should set up a couple of underground tunnels at airport road intersections, he said.
He suggested that the government should take those projects that will instantly help ease traffic congestion in Dhaka city.
Immediate implementation of the 20-year STP is crucial to an integrated transport system in Dhaka and resolving perennial traffic congestion, said Dr SM Salehuddin, additional executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board.
Rashed T Islam, a Texas-based traffic engineer, in his presentation on Dhaka's transport system and traffic problems recommended utilisation of the existing roads, eviction of illegal settlements in public thoroughfares and regulated car parking system.
Jasim Uddin, joint commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in his presentation put emphasis on traffic education and engineering, enforcement of traffic rules and proper management of car parking.
Md Abdul Motaleb of Jahangirnagar University in a presentation recommended a mass rapid transit (metro rail) system from Pallabi to Sayedabad.
Research fellows at Buet Joydip Majumdar and Sadia Haq also made a presentation on traffic congestion in Dhaka city.
Top DCC officials, engineers and transport experts also spoke.