Traffic congestions
Refer to the letter dated D.S 01.11.08 by Aminul Islam with the above heading where he emphasized the movement of trains. I do agree with him but what I think Aminul Islam missed out is or got confused with the American study of 130 cities is the commuters who travel in trains do not live in the city and are mostly residing minimum 60 miles not kilometres outside those cities. They come to work in and around the city by train. This is also a regular practice for many in Europe as the cost of living outside the city is much lower than the main city.
However, coming back to the issue in context of Dhaka and Bangladesh, first of all we do not have a proper inter-city train service and talking of train service within Dhaka probably has not come to the fas and busy working brains of our policy makers. In a letter dated 26.09.08 I did mention a circular broad gauge rail line so that the city commuters can easily avoid the hundreds and thousands of traffic lights and save gas, petrol and time for moving in and around the city. The underground railway is a long term and expensive way of transport and will not be used by the poor or the low middle class for everyday travel.
Kamlapur Station (which is still incomplete) was build almost 45-50 years ago and none had the vision during the mid 1960's of the population boom and expansion of the city. During the construction of the rail line they could have easily built the track much higher not necessarily on metal structure but by filling earth (like the Berri Bandhs) as we see in many parts of the world including India that trains travel above the city and the cars, buses do not have to face a level crossing inside the city. But unfortunately we do not have a system like that and the railway system is such an old one like many other areas of Bangladesh government that to travel to Chittagong we have to go all the way to Tongi on the Northern side and then go towards the southern side which is ridiculous. The railway lines need to be reallocated and trains going towards Chittagong, Comilla, Noakhali, should use the same track built for Narayanganj.
This will save valuable time, fuel of the locomotive and the traffic congestion in the city due to trains.
For smooth traffic movement inside the city there is no alternative to making new straight roads and crossings as we in Dhaka have only 7% roads against the minimum requirement of 27%.
No matter what we do, if new planned roads and intersections are made, even if we get rid of all the other types of vehicles and just keep the cars on the roads, we will still have the tailbacks, honking and sufferings as those who are driving the cars, those who own them (individual/corporate) and those who give them the licence are not educated on the traffic management system properly.
The city and eventually the country can see improvements when the government takes action on building new roads and simultaneously teach and modernize the BRTA as far as the traffic congestion and driving disciplines are concerned ( Only a group of persons from a developed country can be given this responsibility). Removing rickshaws, stopping trains, closing or changing the schools timing are not going to improve the present traffic congestions in Dhaka and eventually Chittagong , as the port city is expanding and the city does not have enough roads to accommodate the traffic in the coming years. In 5 years' time, Chittagong will also have the same problem as we do have in Dhaka today.
The government which will come to power should start implementing the STP/MTP, if possible from day one of assuming office. Otherwise, the situation in Dhaka will never improve and will go from bad to worse in 24-36 months as the city will have a lot more reconditioned cars, more VIP movements, political meetings and processions on these 7% roads.
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