Traffic management in Dhaka city

There is no denying the fact that traffic jam is a perennial problem in the capital. Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Buet came up with a startling revelation that 50 lakh man-hour are lost daily and the nation counts a yearly economic loss of up to Tk. 55,500 crore due to Dhaka's worsening gridlock where traffic speed is reduced to five kilometer per hour at rush hours. Apart from the loss of productive hours, the uncontrolled traffic is also responsible for noise pollution, tension, and stress and hastens the ageing process. The unbridled traffic also causes road accidents now and then.  Pedestrians are mainly the victims of such accidents in the city.

Road accidents that kill hundreds of people in Bangladesh every year have assumed as one of the grave national problems in recent times. This vital issue has triggered intense debates at discussion meetings, seminars and symposiums. The speakers have come up with their views on how to minimize road accidents but the solution seems illusive as the problems that are responsible for road mishaps are hydra-headed. Even walking in Dhaka city is not safe anymore. ARI observed that fatality in walking mode is 9.25 times higher than that of using rickshaw. Fragmented and unprofessional bus operators, illegal occupation of footpath and parking created a chaotic traffic system, but situation can be improved, the cost of traffic congestion can be minimised at least by 60 per cent with an effective traffic management system.

Legislation for curbing road mishaps will do little if all others problems are not properly addressed. There are many laws already in force in the country but application of the same are hardly noticed. Over the years a tendency has grown for shifting blame. None is ready to take the blame on himself or herself. This blame game has done more harm than good.

By wasting millions of working hours of the residents of the city, the gridlock inflicts a severe blow to the GDP of the country. In the circumstances, reducing traffic congestion should be the utmost priority of the relevant authorities. The experts at ARI think that by ending mismanagement of the city's traffic system economic losses can be averted. It is easier said than done. What is needed is the maximum utilisation of the existing infrastructure to improve the city's gridlock substantially. There is no alternative to solve Dhaka's labyrinthine traffic chaos in the interest of the smooth movement of the commuters and pedestrians. The government should seek advice of the experts for this. Mere utterance of platitudes will not do, what is needed is concrete action.

 

Traffic management in Dhaka city

There is no denying the fact that traffic jam is a perennial problem in the capital. Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Buet came up with a startling revelation that 50 lakh man-hour are lost daily and the nation counts a yearly economic loss of up to Tk. 55,500 crore due to Dhakas worsening gridlock where traffic speed is reduced to five kilometer per hour at rush hours. Apart from the loss of productive hours, the uncontrolled traffic is also responsible for noise pollution, tension, and stress and hastens the ageing process. The unbridled traffic also causes road accidents now and then. Pedestrians are mainly the victims of such accidents in the city. Road accidents that kill hundreds of people in Bangladesh every year have assumed as one of the grave national problems in recent times. This vital issue has triggered intense debates at discussion meetings, seminars and symposiums. The speakers have come up with their views on how to minimize road accidents but the solution seems illusive as the problems that are responsible for road mishaps are hydra-headed. Even walking in Dhaka city is not safe anymore. ARI observed that fatality in walking mode is 9.25 times higher than that of using rickshaw. Fragmented and unprofessional bus operators, illegal occupation of footpath and parking created a chaotic traffic system, but situation can be improved, the cost of traffic congestion can be minimised at least by 60 per cent with an effective traffic management system. Legislation for curbing road mishaps will do little if all others problems are not properly addressed. There are many laws already in force in the country but application of the same are hardly noticed. Over the years a tendency has grown for shifting blame. None is ready to take the blame on himself or herself. This blame game has done more harm than good. By wasting millions of working hours of the residents of the city, the gridlock inflicts a severe blow to the GDP of the country. In the circumstances, reducing traffic congestion should be the utmost priority of the relevant authorities. The experts at ARI think that by ending mismanagement of the citys traffic system economic losses can be averted. It is easier said than done. What is needed is the maximum utilisation of the existing infrastructure to improve the citys gridlock substantially. There is no alternative to solve Dhakas labyrinthine traffic chaos in the interest of the smooth movement of the commuters and pedestrians. The government should seek advice of the experts for this. Mere utterance of platitudes will not do, what is needed is concrete action.