Only rickshaws responsible?
Recently I saw a very thought-provoking cartoon depicting the usual scene of flashy, stretched-out, Gas Guzzling Monstrosities (GGMs) stuck bumper-to-bumper on the city road. No other mode of public transport was visible - no buses, minibuses, haulers, CNGs, rickshaws etc. What was revealing were the thoughts of every driver and occupant of the cars. Each was saying the same thing “If all these idiots had taken the bus, I would be home by now.”
This in a nutshell gives the basic cause (and perhaps, the solution) of our perennial traffic jams. It is the rapidly inflating EGOs of a major section of our nouveau riche, fuelled by easy money and the insatiable desire for flashy materialistic possessions.
Such people use their SUVs and other cars for the simplest of errands and for the shortest of distances, most often sending only their drivers in an empty car.
Banani Road No 11 is an excellent place to observe such shenanigans. What will be the cost of a loaf of bread if an empty BMW/Mercedes/Lexus etc travels say 10 km to get it, not counting the jam caused while making a U-turn on the narrow road. Soon we will hear of these same people living in specially designed places, palaces or residences, so that they can drive by mechanically driven Go-Karts from their garages to their living, dining and bedrooms. Sorry, bathrooms as well.
As expected the axe has started to fall once again on the humble rickshaw. More roads and junctions have been barred to them. The relevant minister has also unmindfully jumped into the fray. Speaking at the inauguration of the so-called articulated bus services, he expostulated that with the increase in such buses, rickshaws would be banned. Is he aware that buses and rickshaws do not replace each other? They have their own routes, passengers and usages. The minister can garage his private cars for a month and find out for himself.
So, what can be done? Good question! Does the government, NBR, DMP, BRTC, Customs & VAT, Port, Planning Commission, Banks and Financial Institutions, the hordes of City Planners, Experts and other authorities have any answers? NO! Then contact me and Dhaka can be made liveable in a few months!
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