Traffic jams
Travelling in Dhaka city has virtually become a nightmare. All the roads are clogged. The cars are stuck bumper to bumper, the engines release a tremendous amount of heat, drivers honk their horns incessantly, some of the old vehicles let go black smoke, vehicles break lanes and try and enter the ones that are moving faster. At rush hour, a distance of three to four kilometres can take about an hour to reach. Destinations like Gulistan, Motijheel, Old Dhaka, Maghbazar, Malibagh, Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmondi are nightmares for commuters from any point in the city. Especially frustrating are the points likeHotel Sonargaon crossing, the road in front of the Prime Minister's office, Maghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Khilghaon, Rampura, Elephant Road, Science Laboratory, Green Road, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Mohakhali and old parts of the city mainly at Dholaikhal, Postagola, Bangshal, Chowkbazar and Imamganj.
People miss important appointments, people are late for work, children and old people fall sick, not to mention the painful site that most of us choose to ignore a blaring ambulance stuck in the middle of a traffic jam trying desperately to find a way. The heat released from the engines, especially the private cars that use air conditioners, increase the overall temperature of the city. Continued exposure to pollution from the streets during traffic jams, will have grave consequences in the future health of these people. The economy, meanwhile, is losing out in millions because of traffic jams. Government officials estimate a loss of around Tk 15,000 crore annually because of traffic jams. The government has introduced a detailed area plan for Dhaka. Bangladesh has proclaimed an order to redesign the capital city to prevent flooding and ease the traffic congestion in the city, requiring reclamation of 3,000 acres of land occupied by influential real estate companies, earlier dubbed as “land pirates” by senior government leaders. Everyone should agree with this new proposal and it must be implemented as soon as possible, because the traffic issue is becoming excruciating!
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