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TRAFFIC congestion these days have become appalling for the city dwellers. No one can reach his or her destination on time because of traffic jam.
Dhaka has become a megacity in the new millennium. But the city could not develop new roads over the decade except construction of one flyover at Mohakhali and another at Khilgaon. There has been a rapid increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads and also of public and private sector activities requiring more movement of people in vehicles on the city roads.
Public transports including buses and taxis have increased more in proportion to private motor cars. Dhaka's very familiar scene is the movement of unfit vehicles which are often seen causing jams on the main roads and also noise and environmental pollution. Many of the drivers of public transports drive vehicles with fake driving licences, leading to accidents. Rickshaws, although have been banned from plying on some of the main roads, are increasing day by day on other roads, streets and lanes, particularly in the residential areas.
Handling VIP transports like those of the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, ministers constitutes the other reason for jam on the road.
Pedestrian safety is a very important factor for road safety purposes. Pedestrians should always walk on the pavements. But pavements are vanishing due to street hawkers and stalls. Overbridges are also not enough in number.
There is no alternative to building extended road facilities, flyovers and overbridges, and synchronised traffic signals. Traffic laws have to be updated in tune with the needs of the time, and applied in all cases of defaults. Computerised data banks should be set up to monitor traffic offences and spurious driving licences and vehicle registrations.
Abdul Hai
Niketon, Gulshan, Dhaka
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