Dhaka’s traffic jams: Traffic cops at the root

It does not need any mention that for smooth traffic movement in the city we need first wide and well-paved roads which the city mostly lacks now. Even what spacious roads and streets the city have these are even made further narrow because of unorganized parking of vehicles, piled up construction materials, ill managed city corporations dustbins, etc. Added to all these are continuous digging of roads and use of footpaths by  hawkers.
Addressing all these problems are not the responsibilities of Dhaka’s traffic police alone, the two city corporations have to ensure that Dhaka’s roads and streets are properly used for the city’s ever-increasing traffic.
However, any neutral assessment of the traffic scene would show up that poor performance of the traffic policemen as the main reason for the traffic mess. Often it is seen they themselves become responsible for creating traffic jams. It is alleged traffic police are more interested to manually handle the traffic than using the street lights. But manual management  of traffic has its limitations as the policemen cannot see much of  the tailbacks . Ideally traffic should be controlled by traffic lights.
Traffic policemen  are frequently noted detaining  rickshawpullers, CNG scooter drivers and  motor vehicles on charges of not having updated documents or for violating traffic rules. But the real reason for the detention is bribe. They are found least bothered as jams build up on the rear while they are rent-seeking. Buses are supposed to stop at designated points only to pick up passengers. But many buses are seen stopping right on the middle of roads and picking up passengers as if they have all the time in the world to do so while creating a blocking effect on the traffic flow behind. The bus operators can do this because of their understanding with the policemen who are paid bribes.
We believe that pending completion of mega projects to improve traffic movement in the city, immediate short term measures can certainly be taken that would  aim to ensure that traffic policemen are only too obliged to do their job efficiently and honestly. Taking of such  measures will likely reduce traffic congestion by 40 per cent, say experts.

Dhaka’s traffic jams: Traffic cops at the root

It does not need any mention that for smooth traffic movement in the city we need first wide and well-paved roads which the city mostly lacks now. Even what spacious roads and streets the city have these are even made further narrow because of unorganized parking of vehicles, piled up construction materials, ill managed city corporations dustbins, etc. Added to all these are continuous digging of roads and use of footpaths by hawkers. Addressing all these problems are not the responsibilities of Dhakas traffic police alone, the two city corporations have to ensure that Dhakas roads and streets are properly used for the citys ever-increasing traffic. However, any neutral assessment of the traffic scene would show up that poor performance of the traffic policemen as the main reason for the traffic mess. Often it is seen they themselves become responsible for creating traffic jams. It is alleged traffic police are more interested to manually handle the traffic than using the street lights. But manual management of traffic has its limitations as the policemen cannot see much of the tailbacks . Ideally traffic should be controlled by traffic lights. Traffic policemen are frequently noted detaining rickshawpullers, CNG scooter drivers and motor vehicles on charges of not having updated documents or for violating traffic rules. But the real reason for the detention is bribe. They are found least bothered as jams build up on the rear while they are rent-seeking. Buses are supposed to stop at designated points only to pick up passengers. But many buses are seen stopping right on the middle of roads and picking up passengers as if they have all the time in the world to do so while creating a blocking effect on the traffic flow behind. The bus operators can do this because of their understanding with the policemen who are paid bribes. We believe that pending completion of mega projects to improve traffic movement in the city, immediate short term measures can certainly be taken that would aim to ensure that traffic policemen are only too obliged to do their job efficiently and honestly. Taking of such measures will likely reduce traffic congestion by 40 per cent, say experts.