Traffic woes in the capital and possible remedy

Lack of parking mounts trouble

Illegal parking on the road causes traffic chaos and congestion, especially in a city like Dhaka, where road space is extremely inadequate. Parking of vehicles on footpaths forces pedestrians to walk on the road. This causes a serious safety concern for pedestrians as they risk themselves being hit by oncoming vehicles. This further reduces the road space, causing traffic chaos and congestion. While visiting different areas yesterday, The Independent found that parking of private cars is contributing to severe traffic congestion.

Vehicles, mostly private cars, were illegally parked on footpaths and roads in the busy areas of the capital, causing severe traffic congestion and suffering of pedestrians. Officials park their vehicles in front of their offices, blocking major portions of the nearby busy roads.

Such parking is also seen in front of many government and private offices in different commercial areas including Motijheel, Purana Paltan, Arambagh and Kakrail.

Khairul Alom, a tea-seller of Khilgaon area, said a lot of people regularly park their cars near the Khilgaon railway crossing area and in front of some shopping malls, causing huge traffic congestion daily.

“I didn’t see any law enforcers or government body removing those vehicles or preventing anybody from parking their vehicles on roads,” he added.

Although most people realise that illegal parking causes traffic dislocation, they have no option but to park their vehicles on the roads or footpaths in the absence of any proper parking space.

However, some may argue that people should not visit places with personal vehicles that do not provide parking facilities.

Toimur Alam, a private banker, said most of the time he did not find any parking space provided by the government or private organisations.

“So sometimes I am bound to use the road as my parking space. If the city corporations take the initiative to create a good parking system in the city,  I would not use roads for parking,” he added.

On September 13, 2015, the High Court (HC) directed the government to immediately stop illegal parking of vehicles in Dhaka city. The court also issued a rule to the authorities (Secretaries to the ministries of home and environment and DMP commissioner) to explain why they should not be directed to stop illegal parking of vehicles in the capital city.

But after 2015, no initiatives have been taken to fix the problem. The authorities concerned—the traffic department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Rajuk—offer no solution.

Now, the two city corporations and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are blaming each other for the chaotic traffic situation.

The DMP is chiefly responsible for the traffic system and enforcing parking laws, while the DSCC, DNCC and Rajuk

are responsible for providing parking space and monitoring their arrangement.

Mir Rezaul Alam, additional commissioner (traffic) of the DMP, begs to differ. He said that arranging parking facilities was the job of the civic bodies, but  the two city corporations hardly took care of that matter.

“We have held several rounds of talks with the city corporations. Recently, we fixed 70 spots for parking around the city,” he claimed.

“We can enforce strict traffic vigilance, but the desired result can’t be achieved if the mentality of people does not change,” he added.

More and more people are parking vehicles on busy city streets, arguing that there is inadequate or no parking space available, thus contributing to acute traffic congestion in Dhaka. In most cases, illegally parked vehicles occupy almost half of the road space, particularly in front of shopping malls, markets, offices and schools.

 

Traffic woes in the capital and possible remedy

Lack of parking mounts trouble

Illegal parking on the road causes traffic chaos and congestion, especially in a city like Dhaka, where road space is extremely inadequate. Parking of vehicles on footpaths forces pedestrians to walk on the road. This causes a serious safety concern for pedestrians as they risk themselves being hit by oncoming vehicles. This further reduces the road space, causing traffic chaos and congestion. While visiting different areas yesterday, The Independent found that parking of private cars is contributing to severe traffic congestion. Vehicles, mostly private cars, were illegally parked on footpaths and roads in the busy areas of the capital, causing severe traffic congestion and suffering of pedestrians. Officials park their vehicles in front of their offices, blocking major portions of the nearby busy roads. Such parking is also seen in front of many government and private offices in different commercial areas including Motijheel, Purana Paltan, Arambagh and Kakrail. Khairul Alom, a tea-seller of Khilgaon area, said a lot of people regularly park their cars near the Khilgaon railway crossing area and in front of some shopping malls, causing huge traffic congestion daily. I didnt see any law enforcers or government body removing those vehicles or preventing anybody from parking their vehicles on roads, he added. Although most people realise that illegal parking causes traffic dislocation, they have no option but to park their vehicles on the roads or footpaths in the absence of any proper parking space. However, some may argue that people should not visit places with personal vehicles that do not provide parking facilities. Toimur Alam, a private banker, said most of the time he did not find any parking space provided by the government or private organisations. So sometimes I am bound to use the road as my parking space. If the city corporations take the initiative to create a good parking system in the city, I would not use roads for parking, he added. On September 13, 2015, the High Court (HC) directed the government to immediately stop illegal parking of vehicles in Dhaka city. The court also issued a rule to the authorities (Secretaries to the ministries of home and environment and DMP commissioner) to explain why they should not be directed to stop illegal parking of vehicles in the capital city. But after 2015, no initiatives have been taken to fix the problem. The authorities concernedthe traffic department of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Rajukoffer no solution. Now, the two city corporations and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are blaming each other for the chaotic traffic situation. The DMP is chiefly responsible for the traffic system and enforcing parking laws, while the DSCC, DNCC and Rajuk are responsible for providing parking space and monitoring their arrangement. Mir Rezaul Alam, additional commissioner (traffic) of the DMP, begs to differ. He said that arranging parking facilities was the job of the civic bodies, but the two city corporations hardly took care of that matter. We have held several rounds of talks with the city corporations. Recently, we fixed 70 spots for parking around the city, he claimed. We can enforce strict traffic vigilance, but the desired result cant be achieved if the mentality of people does not change, he added. More and more people are parking vehicles on busy city streets, arguing that there is inadequate or no parking space available, thus contributing to acute traffic congestion in Dhaka. In most cases, illegally parked vehicles occupy almost half of the road space, particularly in front of shopping malls, markets, offices and schools.